American

Gaye Clark and Sean Palmer

Sean Palmer at Missio Alliance:

Three Confessions Ms. Clark Said, but Didn’t Say

Without examination, many people – of all races – believe in preferable whiteness. It may have been the demythologizing of Caucasian greatness that stunned Gaye Clark when her daughter brought home someone she didn’t associate with greatness.

For my part, I’m grateful she shared her experience. Her anxieties and learnings are almost universal. If you’re shocked that it took this experience for her to come to these new conclusions, you might not be a progressive as you imagine. Your world may be more restricted than you think. It’s sad that’s Gaye’s experience isn’t restricted to her, but it’s not.

Unfortunately, it’s the kind of article that is difficult to hear. Some will weep for Gaye and her daughter because, “she had to settle for a black.” Those on the other side will only hear condescension and pomposity. They won’t be generous enough to understand Gaye’s mindset and realize it’s an attitude she is fighting through.

Having lived Gaye’s experience, and while trying to read her in light of her love and dedication to Jesus, and in the spirit of reconciliation, this is what I think she means. Only I’ll state it more bluntly. Think of it this way: This is what she said, but didn’t say. In sum, Gaye makes three confessions… [Go to link to read them … and then Sean concludes with this.]

We’re All in Process

Gaye Clark raised a daughter unmoored by the deleterious implicit associations rooted and unacknowledged in Gaye’s own heart. It’s a blessing, testament, and the desire of every parent to raise children who are better people than they are. Gaye should be applauded for that!

Though there’s plenty of paternalism lurking beneath her words, she shouldn’t be demonized for them. Rather than burying her experience and process under a cave of attacks, we need more people sharing openly about where they are concerning race. The false promise of political correctness leaves people wounded and discouraged from ever uttering another word about race. Honesty is the only way to grow. It’s the only way for the church to live up to her calling at ministers of reconciliation. To shut down honesty means curtailing necessary conversations, needed confessions, and new commitments.

Unspoken prejudice doesn’t go away. It goes underground.

Though I may wish she had sooner realized that people like me were made in the image of God, Gaye’s experience is just the thing many future and existing mothers- and fathers-in-law need to hear. It will help them take the next right step. And life is always about take the next right step.

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