Chick-Fil-A CEO Says White Christians Should ‘Shine Peoples Shoes’ To Show Sense Of Shame For Racism
Chick-Fil-A’s CEO is speaking out over racism in America. He is urging white Christians to repent and fight for black people, in a 70-minute round-table discussion on Sunday at Passion City Church in Atlanta.
This comes weeks after protesting over police brutality, resulting in the death of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks.
In the interview Cathy said, “Most of us, white people, we’re out-of-sight-out-of-mind oblivious to it. We cannot let this moment pass.” He went on to say, “About a dozen Chick-fil-A restaurants vandalized in the last week, but my plea would be for the white people, rather than point fingers at that kind of criminal effort, would be to see the level of frustration and exasperation and almost the sense of hopelessness that exists on some of those activists within the African-American community.”
He spoke out to his employees and realized there were “conscious and unconscious biases” and even spoke to black team members who felt there weren’t treated with honor and dignity in the workplace.
He noted that white people should “shine black peoples’ shoes to show a ‘sense of shame’ and ’embarrassment’ for racism.”
This story made me think of a famous Mister Rodger’s Neighborhood episode. Mister Rodgers Neighborhood was a show from the 60s, which instilled kindness and where neighbors showed support to each other through difficult times, like divorce, death and social injustice.
In an episode, Mister Rodgers invites over Officer Clemmons to get in the pool. Clemmons accepts, and when he comes over he places his feet into water, with Mister Rodgers. Although this doesn’t seem like a significant gesture, in 1969 it was. At this time public places such as schools, transportation systems, and pools were segregated. Many pools at this time didn’t even allow for black people to go to pools at all, fearing African-Americans carried diseases that could be transmitted through the water.
In 1993, Clemmons made his final appearance on the show, recreating the pool scene. As Clemmons sang “Many Ways To Say I Love You” Rodgers took a towel and dried Clemmons. This gesture was in connection to Jesus who washed his disciples feet, an act of humility and respect. Clemmons said, “I am a black gay man and Fred washed my feet.”
This was a huge moment in American TV history and we see the same virtues being passed on today.
