Why forgiving your oppressor can never be weakness
I just read the controversial column penned by well-loved American syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts entitled, "America repeatedly sold out blacks to appease whites."
I read this column as a black man and a black father while visions of George Floyd crying out for his mama and a disfigured corpse of Emmett Till, lying still in his casket, dance around in my head.
Every bone in my body, every vessel in my heart, every part of my – soul cry out to endorse everything I have just read.
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I thoroughly understand it is beyond human capability to forgive people who have committed egregious acts against you, who also engaged in a protracted effort to deny your basic humanity. They were people who questioned your legitimacy to occupy or aspire to certain offices. We acutely remember the long standing "birtherism" claims. Indeed some still hold on to that long ago debunked belief.
I am asking myself, are they deserving of such a generous, altruistic gesture? History has shown us that we – the victims – are always being asked to give way and extend the hand of compassion, while those now on the wrong side of the equation never exhibit the same kindness when they are on top.
It is so natural, so human, so reasonable, so deliciously tempting to return back in spades that which you received.
Indeed that is the attitude of some today.
They firmly believe in an eye for an eye and that people who take it on the chin without fighting back are losers and suckers.
To reach out and forgive an oppressor is a stupid, unreasonable idea reserved for weak people.
They fully subscribe to the notion, "never apologize, it is a sign of weakness."
Oh! how I yearn to say, "Yes, I agree, that is the right thing to do."
Pitts is fed up and you can feel it reverberate through each line of his spotlessly written prose.
He writes:
“I view this moment through the prism of an African-American man who is a student of history. And one thing that prism has impressed on me is how often this country has sold out Black people in the name of some supposedly greater good….Now in 2020, this great-grandson of slaves is expected, in the name of a supposedly greater good, to seek reconciliation with followers of one of the most flagrantly racist — not to mention misogynistic xenophobic and Islamophobic — presidents in history? In a word: No. In another word: Enough.”
I identified with Pitts. So much of what has happened in the last four years has left me with a feeling of disdain for those in leadership and for those who follow blindly.
Then I was jolted into remembering, it does not matter how I feel. It does not matter how unfair the situation. It does not matter how inconvenient, unpleasant and difficult, I regard the circumstances. It is required of me to trust and obey Him. I was keenly reminded that the business of the cross that He handled for me was a really big deal and demands a similar response.
He has commanded me to forgive, not seven times, which in itself an unheard of, absurd notion — not humanly possible or practical — but seventy times seven. Moreover, He has warned me that if I do not forgive men their trespasses, He will not forgive mine.
That tooth for tooth business is definitely more appealing.
Who can and should do that?
The annoying, simple answer is — I should.
It does not matter if Trump and his supporters do not reach out, I am obligated to do so whether I like it or not. Furthermore, at the risk of sounding unduly harsh, my opinion, feeling, pain, hurt or emotion or those of Mr. Pitts and the supporters of Mr. Trump have no bearing on this transaction.
I am not expected to live down to their standards. I am expected to live up to His.
He is the one who loved me and gave his life for me, when I did not deserve it or demonstrated that I merited any kind of compassion or consideration.
That kind of love and sacrifice constrains me and prevents me from doing anything that shows disregard for such devotion and commitment.
It is my prayer that Mr. Pitts, Mr. Trump and his supporters will someday arrive at the same conclusion.
Nevertheless, if they do not, I will not be deterred, because in the final analysis, it is a matter between He and I.
Livingstone Knowles is a husband, father and prison minister with an interest in penning issues that serve to uplift mankind. He melds his love for Classic literature, The Bible and pop culture - as sordid as it may be - into highly relatable columns of truth, faith and justice. He pens a regular column called Just Thinking. He is also the co-author of HOLA America: Guts, Grit, Grind and Further Traits in the Successful American Immigrant and the online course by the same name.
