Systemic racism continues through institutions, clubs

Systemic racism remains prevalent today, rooted in institutions, country clubs and even Catholic schools, according to Father Joshua Johnson, pastor at Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant.

Flipping the script on a practice that has endured for more than four centuries lies with the church and American Catholics, who Father Johnson said have been “mediocre, lukewarm and cafeteria in general.”

“They have allowed society to impact how they see people who are different from them and how to treat people who are different from them as opposed to the church influencing society, saying ‘this is not ok.’ When the church begins to address it, by becoming disciples of Jesus, by praying, then the world will change,” Father Johnson added.

Father Johnson defined systemic racism as “practices which are unwritten rules, and policies which are written rules, that accommodate and give access to some people for no other reason than because of the color of their skin and discriminate and alienate and deny access to other people, namely people of color, for no other reason than because of the color of their skin.”

He said institution and systemic racism began with slavery, which back then was a written rule, a law. After slavery ended,  the reconstruction period began, ushering in  new laws, essentially targeting former slaves and imprisoning them if they did not have jobs.

Jim Crow laws followed, which Father Johnson said were written policies stating that white and Blacks could not eat, work, play, pray or stay in the same places.

The civil rights acts of the 1960s eradicated the Jim Crow laws, which ended direct institution racism, but indirect institutional racism continues today through practices and policies.

He cited as an example a country club in Metairie that up until the mid-2000s did not allow Black people to be members.

“It was not a written rule, it was a practice,” Father Johnson said.

He noted the club changed its policy only after Archbishop Alfred M. Hughes wrote a pastoral letter against racism, specifying that no Catholic church, school or organization could hold an event at a place that does not allow diverse membership.

He also cited specific policies at Catholic schools throughout the country as perpetuating systemic racism, most notably a written rule that discriminates against African American girls braiding their hair.

“It is normal in Africa, in Haiti and all over the world for Black girls to have braids in their hair,” Father Johnson said. “It is a normative expression for Black (girls) to have braids. Black girls should not be forced to perm their hair to go to Catholic schools.”

He also questioned a Louisiana law criminalizing the wearing of sagging pants. Admittedly against the fashion, Father Johnson questions the consistency of the law, especially since  it is based on indecent exposure.

“There is no law against a woman’s bra being shown,” he said. “If it’s about indecent exposure there should be a law but the reality is most people who sag their pants are Black. “If you’re going to have a law about indecent exposure then every woman whose bra strap is showing, whether it’s on their wedding day, in church or to go to a ball game, needs to be fined as well or get jail time.”

Father Johnson also cited the lack of diverse reading sources for students attending public and Catholic schools as contributing toward systemic racism. He said even in seminary formation, everything is “primarily taught from a white perspective.”

“Even if you look at the history of slavery, it is taught from a white perspective and glanced over and made to look like it’s no big deal,” he said. “Or Jim Crow laws are not always being taught in schools. We are not teaching the reality of what happened in our nation’s history.”

Father Johnson said students at all levels, including seminarians, are being exposed to white authors and few, if any, African American authors, which he called “problematic.”

“Our educational experience is only being taught from one perspective, not from a diverse perspective,” he said. “That is what perpetuates the problem, the divisions that are in places that need to be addressed by all people.”

Father Johnson said the church is the heart of the solution, beginning with his fellow clergy members. He stresses that educating Catholics about such people as Blessed August Tolton and five other Africans who are on the path to sainthood  is a crucial first step, saying that not only were they persecuted by white Catholics in the church they were also helped by a few white Catholics.

“If their stories can be promoted in our church, if their causes be made more public, then Black Catholics can look at their lives and say if they can stay with Jesus in the face of persecution, then so can I,” Father Johnson said. “But their stories can also inspire white Catholics to say ‘I don’t’ want to be like the many white Catholics who chose to do nothing when they were being persecuted. I want to be like the few white Catholics who chose to accompany them and walk with them.’ ”

“Instead of our priests preaching about politics all of the time how about they preach about these six candidate for sainthood of African descent? That would inspire transformation.”

Father Johnson also outlined a series of changes he believes need to be made in Catholic schools, beginning with adding diverse artwork and statues that better reflect the school’s enrollment and even heaven.

He said establishing a Black Catholic curriculum must be established now and added the Catholic Schools Office for the Diocese of Baton Rouge is currently exploring that possibility.

He also encouraged Catholic schools to examine current policies and invite people of color to sit at the table to ensure sure there are not written rules that discriminate specifically against Black girls and to also make sure a school’s faculty looks like heaven since heaven looks like people of different ethnicities.

“When Catholic schools began in our country they were not for the rich,” Father Johnson said. “So why are our Catholic schools accommodating rich people now?

“Let’s look at policies. What are the requirements for people to get into Catholic schools? Policies need to change.”

Father Johnson urged Catholics to use their voice to fight unjust practices, and to listen, learn and pray and then acting because “God does use prayer and fasting to transform people’s mind.”

“There is no such thing as a white heaven and a Black heaven,” he added. “Everybody is in heaven together.”