This is a topic I am nervous to approach. My worst fear is triggering anger or hostility. My goal is simply to acknowledge something that exists in our society and bring awareness. Shaming, blaming, or guilting is not my purpose.
What triggered this post? Tonight, upon hearing that I was Jewish, a man asked me to defend the ONE stoplight that is on a major road in Charlotte that allows Jews to enter and exit the property known as Shalom Park. In Shalom Park there are two synagogues, a Jewish Community Center, a Jewish Day School, and any number of events.
I was so blown away by this man’s audacity to complain about a SINGLE stop light in Charlotte. I realized that this man had no clue how much privilege he had as a Christian in a predominantly Christian city, much less country or society. It was complete ignorance.
Anyone who lives in Charlotte can attest to the traffic struggles from 8:30-2:00 every Sunday. Entire lanes of busy roads are dedicated to church parking. Churches are on nearly every street corner. Crosswalks are often ignored and families cross busy roads without warning, dressed in their Sunday best. Restaurants are swarmed for the brunch/lunch hours. None of these things are bad, they just are. It’s a reality that I’ve lived with all 25 years of my life. I totally respect the rhythmic waves of the weekend in a Christian city.
On a greater scale, school breaks and vacations are designed around Christian holidays. There is Easter break and Christmas break. Jewish children must take deliberate absences during our holiest of holy days. Our liquor laws in NC revolve around the Christian Sabbath, as do store closings. Christmas trees are a fixture in every major store, intersection, school, office, and hospital during the month of December.
Even larger, many powerful politicians vote based on their belief that our Constitution was built to create a Christian nation. Many of our politics have been dictated by the Christian majority.
Again, I’m not complaining, but I am pointing out that Christians, as a vast majority, dictate many every day things in our society, as well as our nation’s political actions. It’s a truth. I am not calling it right or wrong, good or bad. It is, without a doubt, there.
As a Jew, I have always had to operate in a Christian society. If you’ve read my blog, I feel I’ve made my love for religious pluralism evident. I come from a multi-faith family. I grew up with Christmas and Hanukkah, Easter and Passover. I love that my country was built on the foundation of separation of church and state. I just feel like people forget it sometimes.
As a minority, I will never expect for Charlotte to shut down for Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. I will never anticipate seeing a synagog on every street corner. However, I do hope and pray for a day when Shalom Park having one stoplight on Providence Road doesn’t infuriate someone in the majority.
As approximately 2% of the US population I am aware of my minority status. I also recognize that aside from Christians, Jews have the most representation in our society. I am curious as to how Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, secularists, and others experience Christian Privilege.
Again, the purpose of this post was not to point fingers or cause a ruckus, it’s just to acknowledge that Christians are the vast majority of this society, and thereby have often unintended privilege. Recognize it. Be cognizant. Think before you complain about the fact that your child can’t make Christmas ornaments in school because of the one Jewish girl in class (something I heard in my work’s breakroom once). Take a moment to consider your words when you claim that there is a war on Christianity in America (something I hear most days of my life). Think before you claim that our diverse nation’s laws need to uphold your particular holy book. There may be more of you, but we, the minorities, are just as valuable.
*As an addendum, I feel like I must acknowledge that there is discrimination against Christians. I am not arguing against that, I am instead talking about Christian privilege. How as a general rule, our society’s functioning is structured around Christian culture.
And You Shall Love 