Thread on how "good people" end up participating in virulently racist and xenophobic movements through religion:
One of the questions asked in the wake of Trump's election was: "Are all Trump voters racist?"
This seemed preposterous to many, including many left-wing news outlets. How could so many family members, neighbors, and church friends be racist?"
This seemed preposterous to many, including many left-wing news outlets. How could so many family members, neighbors, and church friends be racist?"
There is no doubt, as we have seen, that many of them are racist. Even if someone doesn't come out with an "I am racist" pin on their swastika sweatshirt--and even if they say "I don't have a racist bone in my body"--doesn't mean they aren't racist. 
As so many have pointed out, one way to understand how is by looking at how they participate in racist and xenophobic (and often homophobic, transphobic, and misogynist) groups, systems, and communities despite claiming not to be prejudiced.
This happened in 1920s America in the KKK. As @kelly_j_baker points out in "Gospel According to the Klan," the KKK presented itself as a patriotic Christian organization. The boys from the Klan paid for church picnics, sang in the choir, and . . .
most never moved from the fact that their rituals and beliefs were founded on the Gospel. In the eyes of many, a Christian American organization that also paraded against religious and racial minorities (mainly African Americans, Catholics, Jews, but also AAPI and others)
The nationalism and the Christianity came first, giving cover to the racism. Many folks in the 20s went to bed at night believing their participation in the KKK made them a Christ follower and a patriot.
But once you're in, you're in. Once you belong to a group like the Klan, you are actively perpetuating its racism and xenophobia. The individual complicity is what gives rise to the mainstreaming of these organizations.
This is a helpful way to understand the "Are Trump voters racist?" question. Many of them see him as a patriot and an ally for "religious freedom" and their anti-choice abortion stance. The racism and xenophobia are an added bonus.
Don't get me wrong: the racism and xenophobia is rampant among his base. No denying that. No shirking it. But, my hope is we can see through the prism of the 1920s KKK example how many white evangelicals see themselves when they go to bed at night: patriots and Christ followers
. . . not virulent racists. We covered this on our latest episode of Straight White American Jesus:
podomatic.com/podcasts/strai…
podomatic.com/podcasts/strai…
