{"id":6019,"date":"2022-03-02T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thegateway.jetfuel.cloud\/?p=672"},"modified":"2022-03-02T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T17:00:00","slug":"discord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/discord\/","title":{"rendered":"Discord: A First-Gen Filipino American’s Perspective on Race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A few years ago, I planned a beach day with friends to escape the summer heat of the San Fernando Valley. While deliberating, one of them mentioned that he was in urgent need of a tan. I was flabbergasted. I had no idea why people would want to get darker. I thought the lighter your skin, the more desirable you must be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing up in the Philippines, I often heard comments like \u201cshe\u2019s pretty for being dark,\u201d or \u201cyou really need to stay out of the sun.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a first-generation Filipino immigrant, I grew up believing in the supremacy of America. Hollywood entertainment and the US colonial influence in the Philippines conditioned me to think of America as an enviable, picture-perfect land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, speaking English proficiently was a criterion for honor. Possession of American imported products was a symbol of worth. But the most valuable quality that encompassed all these desirables was white skin<\/em><\/strong>. From television ads to posters in local stores, staying indoors to papaya whitening soap – beauty and worth were dictated by the lightness of one\u2019s skin, and America seemed to have no shortage of that. To me, whiteness and the idea of America were inextricably linked and intrinsically valuable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stop AAPI Hate Demonstration, Los Angeles, Calif. | by Rachel Allen<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I carried this deeply ingrained belief as I migrated to Los Angeles\u2014Hollywood\u2019s hometown that, ironically, exuded ethnic diversity. I was surrounded by immense multicultural and multi-ethnic communities, but I ultimately still evaluated beauty and value through the lightness of one\u2019s skin. It was an indicator of trustworthiness, safety, and success to me. Honestly, I only listened<\/em><\/strong> to those who looked and acted white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, my perceptions of whiteness and America began to shift. In California, I heard my first black joke – as well as other racially stereotypical jests. It is where I heard the stories of African slaves dehumanized. It is where I first heard the ongoing reverberations of historic discrimination. My assumptions were challenged as I learned about America\u2019s complicated history and the stories of my peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of those challenging accounts came from a local pastor and friend. He is a dark-skinned Mexican American and has had a number of unwarranted police stops. In one instance, while driving with his white wife, he was pulled over. After taking a good look at my friend and obtaining his driver\u2019s license, the officer moved over to the passenger side and asked his wife, \u201cMa\u2019am, are you okay? Is this man causing you any trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with the rest of the country, Southern California experienced its share of protests following George Floyd\u2019s death in police custody. Shouts of \u201cNo Justice, No Peace\u201d echoed through our communities. People held up signs imploring others to say the names \u2018George Floyd\u2019 and \u2018Breonna Taylor.\u2019 Their passionate demands for policing reformations emanated throughout neighborhoods and cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I witnessed this, I was overcome with a barrage of emotions. Anxiety, frustration, excitement, sadness, confusion\u2014a mixed bag of sensations that reflected discordant voices inside me. I\u2019m an immigrant empathetic with the experience of minorities. Yet I am also a naturalized citizen thankful for American opportunity. I was homegrown in the Philippines conditioned with racial biases. But I am also Filipino-American sharing the burden of society’s racial issues. I am a community member ready to accept the ideals of my peers. Yet I am also a Christian who is called to propagate truth. So, I turned to scripture to try to answer this question: what posture should I take in response to this public outcry of racial injustice?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stop AAPI Hate Demonstration (Left) | George Floyd Memorial (Right) | Los Angeles, Calif. | by Rachel Allen<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The gospel reconstitutes humanity\u2019s system of worth. Apart from Christ, value is determined by many arbitrary and unfair factors. In the ancient world, gifts, favor, and honor\u2014integral elements for survival\u2014were only given to those who society considered worthy. Today, America\u2019s criteria for worth involve adhering to societal standards, defending cultural norms, displaying extraordinary talent, and even skin color. The gospel, however, defines worth by Christ\u2019s gift alone. In other words, all people are valuable because Christ gives Himself up for all people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christ\u2019s self-giving is the means for God\u2019s ultimate plan – the redemption of all creation and reconciliation of humanity back to God and to one another. He sought not only to forgive but to undo the oppressive and divisive nature of humans. Our depravity is a microcosm of sin\u2014the ultimate oppressive force that enslaves people to its power. The righteousness of God demonstrated in Christ is not only experienced in the forgiveness of sin but our deliverance from its dominion. The gospel is a rescue mission from enslavement towards freedom, equity, and unity in the multiethnic, multicultural, and multigenerational new covenant family.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an active participant in this mission, I am compelled to listen. <\/em><\/strong>To listen to those who feel disenfranchised. To listen to those who are in agony. To listen to those who still feel the reverberation of oppression in America\u2019s history. To listen to those pleading to be valued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much of the Christian response I have seen, unfortunately, has not involved enough listening. Words become triggers that automatically label people as enemies. Civil and healthy dialogue has been replaced with brutal rhetoric. Condemnation is bolstered while compassionate understanding is diminished. Rather than listening to their experience, many of us have invalidated their pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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George Floyd Memorial, Los Angeles, Calif. | by Rachel Allen<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

G.K. Chesterton once wrote, \u201cThere is a lot of difference between listening and hearing.\u201d The ability to listen is an active, gospel-inspired practice (James 1:19-27). Listening involves attentiveness, acknowledgment, empathy, and understanding. It is a discipline that requires patience, open-mindedness, and a perspective that strives toward the biblical vision of reconciliation and ultimate redemption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We only listen to people who we think have value. <\/em><\/strong>The gospel compels us to deconstruct our deeply ingrained systems of worth in order to see all people as intrinsically valuable and to seek reconciliation. Of course, one does not have to agree with all the ideologies and actions espoused by the Black Lives Matter movement, especially those that are unbiblical and result in the same oppressive ends. However, Christians cannot be deaf to the communal lament of millions of people who have real, valid trauma and pain. To listen is to acknowledge their worth. To listen is to recognize their real pain. To listen is to move towards unity and reconciliation. To listen is to be like Christ. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How easily we can make people feel valued by just listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read More<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Read through this helpful bibliography of resources on Iran gathered by Dr. Phil Hopkins.<\/p>\n

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\n Philip O. Hopkins<\/a>\n
Professor of Missions<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
Philip O. Hopkins is a professor of missions and chair of the Missions and Intercultural Studies Department at Gateway Seminary. He earned Ph.D. in applied theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a second Ph.D. in Iranian history from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland). He is also the associate editor of the IRAN: Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies.<\/div>\n
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Read an excerpt from Daniel M. Gurtner’s article in this festschrift in honor of Dr. Steve Walton<\/p>\n

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\n Daniel M. Gurtner, Ph.D.<\/a>\n
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Dr. Gurtner has a passion for making Christ known through careful, deliberate, and worshipful study of the Bible, and training students to do the same.<\/div>\n
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April 28, 2026<\/div>\n

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Obadiah, one chapter, 21 verses. This book tells the ongoing tale of conflict between Esau and Jacob, transferred to the land. It’s a book of future judgement for Edom who did not help his brother.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

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In this prophetic book, about 50% is focused on judgement and 50% on restoration. Overall, Joel is a pretty positive book, letting Israel know there will be blessings along with punishment.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

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A few years ago, I planned a beach day with friends to escape the summer heat of the San Fernando Valley. While deliberating, one of them mentioned that he was in urgent need of a tan. I was flabbergasted. I had no idea why people would want to get darker. I thought the lighter your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":6265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[20,150,151,152,153],"class_list":["post-6019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-voices","tag-church","tag-filipino","tag-george-floyd","tag-immigrant","tag-race"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6019"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6019\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raincrossdev2.com\/gateway\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}