The Intersection of Racism & Redemption
by
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Too Black to Be White: Too White to Be Black
There was an intersection of common experiences that bonded my family, and most residents in our community, together in our views on racism. We wrestled with the complexities that overlapped in the Creole experience because the genetic makeup in my family produced an array of skin colors. We were raised as part of the Black community, but if seen in isolation, several of my siblings would be physically indistinguishable from White people. Therefore, getting on a bus to their destination offered little likelihood of being questioned about sitting in areas set aside for Whites only. Other siblings had Native American characteristics, and some had West Indian and/or Negroid features. We all resemble each other, but our skin tones range from chalk to chocolate, which tends to explain why some people have called us “Crayolas.”
I had to learn how to negotiate seating on public transportation in Houston as a young child. Because my mom had ethnic Mexican features, she looked like she was either American Indian or Hispanic (thus her nickname, “Mama Mex”). Often, passengers of Mexican decent were seated at the front of the bus. So, when accompanied by her, we sat in the “White only” section. If I entered alone, I knew to make my way to the rear.
Several among my siblings found themselves in the dangerous zone called “No Man’s Land,” torn between the Whites, who called us the “N” word, and the Blacks who called us “Geechee.” Geechee was a dialect originally developed by Negro slaves living on the Ogeechee River in Georgia. The Chevalier siblings were fully enculturated into the Black culture, even though the older siblings spoke fluent Creole. My personal experiences with racism were something of a paradox because we were often not accepted by Whites or Blacks.
As a small child, I found myself in a no-win situation that produced both rage and estrangement within my soul because the atmosphere was saturated with racism. These experiences and many others caused an incredible internal tension in me regarding Blacks and Whites. For most of my life I felt suspended between these two poles. It seemed that there was no place for me to feel totally at peace with myself.
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About the Book
The Intersection of Racism & Redemption powerfully reaffirms the truth of forgiveness and reconciliation as a means of restoring us to one another, because racism, after all, is a matter of the heart. In the face of so much injustice being perpetuated upon Americans of all colors in our land today, this story will inspire readers to fight for justice and expand its reach to all people in our country—not only people of color.
It is the author's hope that taking a journey with him though his experiences in the Jim Crow South will enlighten you to see through the misconceptions, inherited beliefs, and deep-ceded wounds that are at the root of the moral, social, and spiritual paralysis we know as racism.
Open the book and let the author show you how he came to find a supernatural, liberating power and the freedom to think differently about himself and others.
About the Author
Dr. Wil Chevalier is the cofounder and executive director of LifeBranch Institute International, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to Christian leadership development and marriage enrichment. He holds an MA from BIOLA University, an MDiv from Asian Theological Seminary, and a DMin from Trinity Seminary. Wil also did postgraduate work at the Asia Graduate School of Theology, Manila. Wil was a middle manager for Pacific Telephone and served as a shareowner-relations manager for AT&T. Upon leaving Pacific Telephone, Wil became the Asian director of Guidelines International, a mission agency dedicated to reaching the family through print and broadcast media. Wil is a certified mediator, trained through Dispute Resolution Services (DRS), a nonprofit corporation of the Los Angeles Bar Association. He received training through the Barristers Domestic Violence Project (Los Angeles Bar Association) and the Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program Cross Training of Orange County. He was a member of the Orange County Task Force for Promise Keepers’ Ethnic and Denominational Reconciliation (1995–1997). Wil and his wife, Jacquie, work as a team at LifeBranch conferences and leadership development seminars. For more than thirty years, they have conducted training in the areas of conflict management, communication, and marriage/family issues. They are certified with the IBCC (International Board of Christian Counselors) as Crisis Response Specialists through CISM, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. They are also members of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the International Press Association. Wil and Jacquie have also spoken at conferences for the American Association of Christian Counselors, the Christian Management Association, Smart Marriages, and the Urban Congress on the Family. They travel widely through their speaking and teaching ministry, ministering on six continents. Many of their publications have achieved international exposure and have been translated into several languages. The Chevaliers have authored several books, including Coaching in Context, Glory in His Name, The Agony & Ecstasy of Intimacy, More Than Love, Marriage Beyond the Garden, Parenting the Coming Generation, and Embracing the Mystery of Love and Marriage. Additionally, Wil wrote Shaking the Family Tree and recorded three music albums that reflect the messages of love and reconciliation. Please contact Wil Chevalier via email directly at wilchevalier1@gmail.com should you desire to invite him to be a speaker for your church events or conferences. Also, be sure to visit our website: www.lifebranch.com LifeBranch Institute, Inc. P.O. Box 8097, Laguna Hills, CA 92654