A few weeks ago, Facebook gave a resurgence to an old Morgan Freeman interview on CNN where the popular actor discussed, among other topics, racism, poverty, and the shrinking middle class.
His comments addressing the current distribution of wealth in the United States and its relationship to racism raised several eyebrows. Conservatives shared the video with delight, relishing in the apparent claim by Freeman that he and the CNN host, Don Lemon, were living proof that the color of skin cannot prevent someone from “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” and making something happen for themselves.
Please see the video here and then consider my wife’s sincere response (below) to Mr. Freeman’s claims.
I decided to share my wife’s (below) response to watching this video because her somewhat dissenting opinion forced me to reconsider my initial response.
“I had planned on being independent. I had tons of ambition. Hopes and Dreams were my heartbeats. I left home at 17 and just needed some time to put my feet under me. I would just have to stay with friends for a little while. I only needed help getting to work until I could afford to buy myself a car. THEN I could be independent.
And the day finally came. I bought a car—all by myself—except for the part where I had connections and help to get me a decent car and more connections to a mechanic to fix it when it broke…for free. I also had connections to get my traffic tickets dismissed. But mostly, I only ever got warnings anyway. I had connections that I did not make myself. They came from adults around me who I did not choose.
But at least I worked for the money to buy the car all by myself. Except the part where my boss didn’t want to hire me because I sucked at the job during my probation period…but she took pity on me…because I had connections.
But besides that, I did it. And I had my car. I could finally be independent.
It’s just that I didn’t have enough money to get a place to live. It was like I was working to own a car to work to own a car. I’d just have to room with someone for a little while longer while I was getting through school…except that I got sick. Very sick with pneumonia and couldn’t take care of myself at all.
And I ended up back at home. But just for a little while. ‘Til I was better. And then I would go off to school. All on my own. I mean, Except for the people who got me into the college. And those who helped me fill everything out and gave me loans. Other than that. I did it all by myself.
And then, I realized I wanted to be a teacher. I had figured it out all by myself. Except that I had never wanted to be a teacher until Jesus showed me a part of myself I didn’t know existed. Through circumstances, I didn’t orchestrate.
Before I knew it, Jesus had abundantly clearly shown me that I had not done anything alone, and I never would. In fact, I exclusively chose the wrong way. And He continually made a way for me. He saved me from deep darkness. He gave me directions. He provided help and resources. He comforted me when I was crushed or scared—all while I was pushing Him away.
I certainly have a rags-to-riches story. I’ve lived under the poverty line a majority of my life. And now, although not wealthy monetarily, I am well provided for.
But I did not pull myself up by my bootstraps. I am the sum of many, many people’s generosity and tons of compassion. People saw a cute young girl and took pity on her. That’s just the truth. Had they not entered, I would have ended up dead or in a juvenile detention center—or any number of other sad stories you see around you.
I am what grace looks like. Grace. Not self-made. So, I will never tell someone I am proof that it’ll happen for them if they work hard enough. There are many, many, many, many people born into devastating situations that they die in. Even the Israelites were 400 years in slavery. Generations were born and died in slavery. Is it because they didn’t work hard enough?
I honestly don’t believe that any of us are deserving or independent. And yet, we’ve been provided for. And now, we want to decide who deserves our grace, mercy, compassion, or help. Do we think that they should because we “did it ourselves,” too?
I know the magnitude and depth of the miracles that made me who I am. Miracles. There were thousands and thousands of moments when I chose the wrong thing, and Jesus rescued me…Most of the time, with Christians, He did not wait for me to bow to Him before He pursued me.
I know the demons and mountains that I could not have defeated alone.
And I KNOW that I did not choose Jesus. He chose me. And not because I was worthy. I ran from him. I rejected him until there were no other options. And I still find myself turning my back on him. And He’s still rescuing me.
So, I will not tell anyone that they should just choose Jesus like I did. I am not proof that you can just work hard enough. Jesus knows that we want to boast about what WEVE done. Does “working hard enough” sound like a gospel truth? In fact, I’m proof that people can be Jesus’ hands and feet and change the course of generations. I’m proof that “love your neighbor” is how we change the world.
I don’t know who I would be right now if people had withheld me or moved away from me. If they told me to go back to where I came from. If they had behaved as though I deserved what came my way. Or If they judged me by my record. If they had acted scared of me and or looked down on me. If I threatened them. Or if they refused to give me “handouts.” Or if I had been stereotyped.
Yet I see people being treated just that way…by Christians. They are told they should just try harder, that if they hadn’t made whatever mistake, they would be more valuable.
But If they had seen the real me, that’s exactly what would have happened. I caught a huge break because of the way I looked. Why is it unreasonable to think that many have it harder because of how they look?
We rely way too much on our eyes. And we are too proud of ourselves. And people are suffering because of it. Let it not be so for me.”
