Poor little rich white girl
by Elouise
Poor little rich white girl
from everywhere
and nowhere in particular
Shrinks in horror
And confusion from
Imperious or friendly voices
Vying for her attention
Her full support
Her obedience
Her submission
Her silence
To be or not to be?
Fear wins the lottery
As she retreats into
Familiar shadows
Of false safety
Unraveling her soul
From the inside out
One stitch at a time
Drifting into slumber
Overflowing with dreams
Of what might have been
Once upon a time before
The clock struck midnight
Covid-19 has disrupted my life. Black Lives Matter has galvanized me. Not because I think we’ll overcome racism in my lifetime, but because I grew up as a poor rich white girl. I was ignorant, confused, and filled with shame about being white and female. Questions about obvious inequalities on display every day of my life went unanswered.
As a preacher’s kid I was fully immersed in the culture of conservative Christianity as interpreted by my father, plus other male preachers and Bible teachers I encountered along the way.
When I married D and left home, I chose to follow a different understanding of Christian faith. Yet even this didn’t give adequate attention to underlying disasters and sins of this country. These included treatment of native American Indians, and treatment of Black women, men and families captured and put on sale to serve as slaves to white Americans.
Being silent today is not an option. Neither is carrying on life as usual.
So I’m asking questions. What does all this mean for me at this time in my life? How will it affect my reading and writing? How will it affect my relationship to the church? What can I do, and What must I NOT do? This isn’t about my generation; it’s about our collective future. With and without me.
I’m also wondering how all this impacts your daily life.
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 29 June 2020
Photo of me with my younger sisters; taken by JERenich in 1953; mixed rural neighborhood outside Savannah, Georgia
I’ve definitely been more courageous in my preaching, calling out systemic racism and systemic poverty, as well as the call to love others and keep others and ourselves safe. I’d say I’ve been braver than I’ve ever been before!
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Knowing you, Natalie, I’d say you’re probably smoking the pulpit! 🔥 Have your members begun looking into their own histories with racism, and what that might mean for the congregation?
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I think they are all over the map on racism. I hope I’m challenging them. It’s hard when I preach to a video camera and don’t have direct contact!
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Yes, of course. I hadn’t thought of that.
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I guess once we’ve made a decision to change, we can see subtle shifts in our understanding. That can have an amazing domino effect, and who knows how the changes will affect our families, our children? We got to start somewhere… Xxx
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Yes! It’s taken a while. I pray we/I won’t give up. 💜💕🙏🏻
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Coolio!
I’m sure you know this already, Elouise, but I’m just checking that your contact email address for me is franmacilvey@fastmail.com. (I’m moving over from franmacilvey@fastmail.fm.)
Hugs! 😀 😀 Xxx
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Right. I’ll think send you an invitation, to your new address. Thanks! 🙏🏻😊💜💕
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Quick followup! Yes, I have your new email address. I think everything else is OK as is.
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Thanks for the pic.
Why have we white evangelicals been so blind to what Jesus wants us to see?
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Hi, Clay!
Isn’t it nice to see Diane there with the rest of us? She did a great job pushing that carriage around!
As for your good question, and speaking from my own limited experience, churches that call themselves evangelical today are very different than evangelical churches when I went to seminary. Back then there was a growing (not yet well-developed) movement to make things like racial equality, hospitality to immigrants, and equality of women part of the church’s calling.
Today, churches that call themselves evangelical are more likely to be in love with power and privilege (and connections to people of power, like Trump). Many seem to believe politicians are there to make sure legal rulings are in line with their beliefs about racial identity, immigrants, male power, women, etc. A strange situation, assuming you claim to follow Jesus of Nazareth.
Praying this finds you and your family well!
Elouise
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