Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 16 October 1997 — Page 8

The Muncie Times, October 16,1997 « Page 8 CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL

Promise Keepers poses dangers for people of color

Old folks used to have a saying about every shut eye not sleeping and every goodbye not being hone. They meant that things aren’t, always what they seem on the surface and that wisdom came from centuries of watching others try to manipulate us, while pretending to help us. 1 was reminded of that old saying as thousands of American men came to rallies across the nation looking for help in their own faith journeys and for an opportunity to re-commit themselves to their families and communities. These rallies, sponsored by the Promise Keepers, have lately been reaching out to men of color, promising “racial reconciliation,” despite its 96 percent white attendance and despite

ties with the so-called religious right. The Promise Keepers have capitalized on a real need by men to find spiritual connection with their Creator, with other men and with their wives and families. Many of these men who have attended the rallies are unaware of the ties of the organization with religious political activists such as Pat Robertson and groups such as the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family—groups and individuals who have a history of opposing affirmative action and other issues which are important to communities of color. Indeed, some conservative white Christians have a long history of oppression of

communities of color—from support and participation in slavery and Jim Crow to the taking of land from Native Americans. Remember, it was to white clergy that Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his famous letter from a Birmingham jail. Now, Promise Keepers are turning to men of color, promising “racial reconciliation” not racial justice. Men at Promise

Keepers rallies are encouraged to befriend and to hug men of color. But hugs will not end discrimination in the job market, will not provide affordable housing or health care or education and will not result in a sharing of power. It’ll take more than hugs and good feelings to cure centuries of racism. Just as disturbing is the report that the well-financed

Promise Keepers (with an annual budget of $ 115 million) pays some clergy of color large fees for attending the rallies. Then there is the issue of Promise Keepers’ view- of the role of women. Promise Keepers men are told that they -have mistakenly given over their leadership role to women and that they must take back their rightful role as leaders. Clergy women are not invited to their rallies and while women volunteers do attend, it is in subservient service-kind of roles. Clearly, the word partnership is not part of this vocabulary. Promise Keepers held its own version of the Million Man March this month in Washington. It seems to have see CIVIL RIGHTS on page 12

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