Read an article from the New York Times about a high school in Georgia, that still has segregated proms. Guess I've been living with my head in the sand, but thought those times were long gone. You know what the sad thing in this was, and I guess not surprising to me, it wasn't the kids that wanted it that way, it was the parents.
Can you imagine, as an American person of color, showing up to a prom on Friday night to take pictures of your friends as they walk on the red carpet, into "their" prom, and after taking pictures, having to leave, and wait until Saturday night for "your" prom.
They talked with frustration about how they wished their friends, who were now 18, would stand up and change this, but confused by the acceptance of the way things were, especially considering some of them wouldn't be able to attend prom with the person they were dating, because they were at the "other" prom.
A couple of things.
One, WOW!
Two, it reminded me that there is no ministry to students that doesn't include ministry to parents.
P.S. The white students were invited to the Saturday night prom, the students of color were not invited to the Friday night prom, and would be escorted out by parents if they tried to go in. No white students showed up.
3 comments:
Sad, but very true. There are at least a dozen or more schools that I am aware of that have the same policies near the south. What bothers me is that there doesn't seem to be any attention given to these HUGE issues in the church or media. Also, how many schools/communities have the same policies that we don't know about.
I think what really troubles me is the "us/them" mentality that exists within our very churches. We can't believe that schools and communities would allow such a thing, but if we really look at our churches, we are guilty of the same thing only on a MUCH larger scale! I am talking about the Christian/sinner mentality. We have our groups and ministries that feel good when we are all "on the same page" but when people come in and don't "play by the rules" we don't like it. It is just easier to be kind, smile and say "hi" to our neighbor rather than really loving and caring for them. We are not just causing hurt feelings and rejecting someone to a one-time event (like Prom), but actually impacting a life for eternity!
You are 100% right, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.
Thanks again Mark.
Praying for you, your family & your ministry!
Mark,
I hope you don't mind, I posted about your post. Say that 10 times real fast. I have such a passion for what you are talking about and your post "pushed" me to post.
http://www.realstudentministry.blogspot.com
Thanks again,
Living for Jesus & loving it!
I, too, am amazed by this! It's incredible that race is still an issue in this country in 2009!
But, it's more than just race, isn't it. It's acceptance and growth and looking beyond the color of another's skin!
We still have a ways to go, I believe!
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