by c.dawn 32 Replies latest social relationships
I had been reading about the past history of the JW's opinion of the black race. Old writings that said they were Gods people too, but not intelligent as white etc and not qualified intellectually to go door to door to teach etc.That all people would be white in the new system.
Where did you read this? I've never come across anything like this.
My experience as a JW does not include any prejudices due to color. Other things like dress and financial status, but not color.
Where did you read this? I've never come across anything like this.
This was long before our time confusedjw. It is in some old WT publications.
http://www.freeminds.org/history/blacks.htm
Blondie
Of course, some JWs know it is necessary to be PC in public when it comes to blacks or whites. I have heard behind the scene comments that blacks are not as intelligent and are lazy; I have heard special needs talks given in congos mostly black where lighter skinned black people were discriminating against darker black people in the congregation (talks given not once or twice either); I can remember a white sister being told by her aunt that she should be careful to marry her intellectual equal when she was dating a black brother. As a rule though, discrimination is usually more because you are not a JW than because of your race. Better a black JW than a white non-JW.
Blondie
I concur with everything blondie said - Right on point, especially the first sentence:
JWs usually reflect the prejudices of their era.
Recalling interracial marriages - One white sis. told me (c mid '80's) that she wouldn't marry a black bro. b/c marriage is hard enough, why complicated it by marrying someone outside your race. Believe it or not, I thought that was such a profound statement, and often quoted her when the subject came up. In hind sight it was such BS - and a perfect politically correct answer.
I knew some interracial Bethelite couples, who told me they would get weird stares from other Bethelites.
But yes, the scenario is usually a white man marrying a black sister.
Peace - LL :)
No one is born a racist but over time people tend to mold their thinking a certain way which may include prejudices depending on how and where they grew up. Thus, I think many of these issues are deep seated and a religion especially not JW's is not going for the most part to change anything.
Many younger JW's are very open when it comes to race and I knew many JW white girls who went for the black guys to the chagrin of their JW parents. It was funny to see the parents squirm because they couldn't say anything without being seen as hypocritical.
So, in the end I think JW's have just as many issues as other groups when it comes to race, but they just lie about their so called perfect harmony. Don't believe me, just go to a convention in Philly and see who sits with who. Sadly, it seems like they are too proud to address such issues.
on the average I think you find more acceptance for interracial marriage in the WTS than the other way around.. I had many JW friends where one was black and the other white..
and while a JW I dated and was engaged to 3 black brothers.. no one ever gave us trouble.
Well it must be pretty much ok now days. My ex-husband of 2 years who is white, married a black sister from another congregation. The Elders of his congregation encouraged him to marry her pronto, so he would not be inflamed with passion at 57 years old. LOL So they will soon be married a year come November. That is cool. He and his wife are the only interracial couple in the congregation for now, but no one from what I have heard has a problem with it. His very southern white prejudice family is not too happy about it. But they are all non-witnesses so he is not concerned about it. If they love each other I think it is wonderful. Love is the key. My son who has left the witnesses does not like her because of her pushy attitude about the religion, but he has no problem with her being black.
Today, prejudice in the JWs does happen, but it's not an everyday thing. It's more of an isolated instance from time to time. Inter-racial marriages happen all the time in the JWs today. It's not given much thought at all. But I remember as a kid in the 60s, an inter-racial relationship, even before the proposal, caused talk, even to the point where the elders would "counsel" the couple. Oh, they made it sound good, as if they wanted to make sure that the young couple knew that they would be in for a tougher time than most, but I personnaly think it was to discouage it so that "worldly" people wouldn't look down on JWs (remembering that segregation was still in its infancy). It wasn't about the couple, it was about the collective.
Chocolate lover said:
and while a JW I dated and was engaged to 3 black brothers.. no one ever gave us trouble.
Not even for not taking "engagement" seriously?
OK I can't add. As to my previous post make that congregations have been mixed for 44 years not 60. Blonde Moment.
