People can be persuaded to desire almost anything...if they are constantly told that it is something to which they are entitled and which is unjustly withheld from them. -- T. S. Eliot, Christianity and Culture.

For white people, God’s reconciliation in Jesus Christ means that God has made black people a beautiful people; and if they are going to be in relationship with God, they must enter by means of their black brothers, who are a manifestion of God’s presence on earth…. Reconciliation to God means that white people are prepared to deny themselves (whiteness), take up the cross (blackness) and follow Christ (black ghetto). – James H. Cone, Black Theology and Black Power.

This is what attempts at white redemption look like in accordance with Black Theology.




A lot of people whose ancestors were not here when, apparently, Pfleger’s ancestors were enslaving blacks, segregating them, and discriminating against them now enjoy benefits like 401k plans. A great many non-whites are making it in this country, people who have been here a shorter time than blacks, in some cases only a matter of decades. Everyone living here now, regardless of when they, or their ancestors arrived here benefits from that past. It's unavoidably true.

Redemption-seeking whites like Pfleger keep telling blacks they're owed and whites, no matter what their ancestors did or did not do, no matter what their ancestors opposed or did not oppose, will always owe. Like I said, the day when the end of their oppression by whites is recognized as over is a long, long way off.