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At the same time, this progress raises the stakes for evangelicalism. If the movement fails to convert these high-profile actions into true reconciliation—a state where nonwhites experience real equality and acceptance—race relations could actually worsen in the church. Already there are rumblings among black Southern Baptists and members of the NBEA that structural changes have stalled and they are going back to "business as usual." As Latinos say, Entre el dicho y el hecho, hay mucho trecho—between words and deeds there’s much road to travel. The toxicity of past promises gone sour is still high among African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans.

What will it take to experience true reconciliation? Good intentions are not enough. For example, a large, white church in Chicago was surprised when their conciliatory efforts backfired. The church had bought large blocks of tickets to give to black and Latino churches so their members could attend the summer 1996 pk rally at Soldier Field. At a prerally meeting, several black pastors angrily denounced the move as patronizing. "We can buy our own tickets!" one said.

The exchange of warm fuzzies won’t do, either. For instance, when the nearly 70,000 men present at the Chicago pk rally were asked by the emcee, "Gentlemen, why are we here?," they shook the stadium with shouts of "To break down the walls!" But racial reconciliation involves more than a pep rally. Stadium-induced pledges will only be an exciting first step when something substantive follows.

Does the white Promise Keeper want-ing to hug me with reconciling fervor take into account that he may support immigration policies that make Latinos—whether U.S.—born, legal immigrant, or undocumented—feel scrutinized every time they go to the doctor or take a child to school? that many Latinos could end up on the streets once welfare reform goes into full effect at the city and neighborhood level? that crackdowns on drugs are disproportionately applied to communities of color? that English-language-only initiatives create a climate where the desire to inculcate in my daughter my language and culture is seen as un-American? The next step for racial reconciliation needs to include rethinking the social and political issues that divide and exasperate our communities.

 

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