I can
honestly say (and it’s about the only thing I am grateful to JWs for) that
becoming a JW completely cured me of racism.
Before that I was a typical young white, London born, English
Nationalist who hated all black people and wanted them all repatriated.
However, years
later I did find it a bit odd that the black presiding overseer of a neighbouring
congregation that was predominantly black, was reportedly having issues of
racism from white servants in that congregation. I heard that from the presiding overseer of
my congregation, and a few years after that, the black presiding overseer
stepped down, declining to become an elder when that system was introduced in
the early 70s.
I also
found it odd when the engagement of a white brother to a black sister was
announced, an older black sister commented that they shouldn’t be marrying each
other because mixed marriages invite difficulties, and they were just bringing unnecessary
troubles down on their own heads. I didn’t
take that as racism, but I did think she should keep those sort of thoughts to
herself.