NBC News reports that there are growing videos of white women unnecessarily calling the police on minorities. Dubbed "Karens" by the internet, their behavior is not new — but it is concerning. So who exactly are these women, and how have they played a part in America’s battle with racial inequality throughout history?
They use their status and power to threaten or humiliate people of color. But that is not all.
Actress and comedian Amanda Seales has some very good insights into these “Karens”. Amanda tells us that “Karens” “oblivion to their privilege is oppressive and often insane.” Amanda goes on to state that “Karens” come down from a long list of white women who “scream and get a black man killed, who can point and get a black woman fired.” Emmitt Tills was a fourteen-year-old who was accused of flirting with a white woman. He was tortured horribly and then put to death for this offense. Decades later this white woman recanted her charge.
The anger and rage many of these “Karens” express are in stark contrast to our cousin Karen. Cousin Karen is kind and compassionate. Karen was inclusive in her love before people knew what inclusive meant. We could never imagine Karen causing a scene such as these “Karens” cause. Karen is gentle and loving and accepting. She is very welcoming.
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus talk about the fact that not a single sparrow falls to the ground without Abba’s knowledge. Or that every single hair on our head is counted. Jesus is trying to convey care and kindness and compassion. Jesus is attempting to explain to his listeners that his experience of the Divine is one of gentleness and love, of acceptance and welcoming.
A large part of his ministry was trying to tear down the walls and barriers of institutional religion and economic injustice. His experience of the Divine was so very different from what organized religion taught the people. The inequity in the way people were treated and lived in society was in direct contrast with the sense of harmony he believed all should live.
As we continue to celebrate Gay Pride Month, we celebrate the major victory passed by the Supreme Court that now makes it a federal law that one cannot be fired based on their sexual orientation. As we celebrate, we hold on to the care, kindness, compassion, gentleness, love, acceptance and welcoming of Jesus. It is important to note that in no - Gospel canonical or noncanonical - did Jesus ever speak against homosexuality. Those who speak against our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community in the name of Jesus distort his message for their own cause and not for the message of Jesus.
The campaign again the LGBTQ community sadly finds its strength in the Evangelical Christian and Roman Catholic communities.
I wonder how many of these “Karens” are Evangelical Christians or Roman Catholic. What makes them think that they can be so powerful in a situation. Just this week a “Karen”, using her baby’s stroller, blocked a woman of color in a parking space. The baby was in the stroller! The offense was that the woman of color’s son climbed up a shelf to reach a Gatorade bottle. “Karen” did not like this. Many years ago, a man blocked me in a parking space with his vehicle because he did not like the fact that I was talking on my cell phone. He had two little children in his car and would not let me go. I remember the feeling of helplessness as a white man of privilege. I cannot imagine what this woman of color was experiencing when she and her children were blocked from leaving a parking area.
So, how do we change racism? How do we continue to fight those who still treat those in the LGTBQ community as less than equal?
Listen to the words from Jeremiah. Then I hear whispering behind my back: "There goes old 'Danger-Everywhere.' Shut him up! Report him!’ Old friends watch, hoping I'll fall flat on my face: "One misstep and we'll have him. We'll get rid of him for good!’
But the Divine, a most fierce warrior, is at my side. Those who are after me will be sent sprawling - Slapstick buffoons falling all over themselves, a spectacle of humiliation no one will ever forget.”
Mary McGlone tells us this about prophets such as Jeremiah, “All those who benefit from the status quo — authorities, clergy, the dominant race, the highly educated, the wealthy, etc.— know that prophets question their privilege, privilege which they generally believe they have earned.” Sound familiar? White privilege?
And then from Matthew’s Gospel, “Do not let people intimidate you. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing is hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops.”
We are called to go outside of ourselves. We are called to stretch. We are called to risk. We are called to expand. We are called to listen. We are called to learn. We cannot be silenced or “shut up”. We cannot be intimidated. Most of all, we are called to integrity.
Right now, in our society up seems to be down and down appears to be up. The “Karens” seem to be justified in making their phone calls. People not understanding what Black Lives Matter means appear to be in the right.
We are challenged to counter the “Karens” and all the other people who just don’t know or understand and sadly just don’t care. We will not succeed by screaming and yelling. We will only succeed by a sustained approached. One of education and engagement. And integrity.
We have witnessed this in a positive way with members of the LGBTQ community. As people meet same sex couples and get to know them as people many of the stereotypes fall away. Prejudices are erased in many cases and acceptance and love enter in to replace. Although far from perfect, we have seen a real advancement in families and society in general.
May we also work toward that day when racism will be vanquished.
Here is a video that will help us start to change racism from Dr. Robin DiAngelo. https://youtu.be/DwIx3KQer54
Black Lives Matter.