Latest / YOUR AVERAGE DELTON / EPISODE 5: When Hate Shows Up At America's Birthday
Transcript
- DELTON DEAL: Hey guys, welcome back to the Average Delton. This is the space where we discuss real life, real loss, and the things that we carry that most people never see. No filters, no pretending, just truth. Now, today is one of those conversations that isn't easy, but I think it's necessary. You know, over the last few days, many people have watched footage of America's 250th anniversary celebration. Now, alongside the celebration, there were also images of white nationalist groups showing up. Now, for many people, especially some of my white friends, those images brought shock, disappointment, even anger. And honestly, their reaction caught me off guard. Not because they were upset, because they were surprised. Now, as a black man in America, surprise isn't an emotion I felt. Sadness, frustration, but it isn't surprise. Because this isn't new to me. I've lived my entire life knowing that somewhere, someone believes the color of my skin makes me less American, less deserving, maybe even less human. That's never been something I've had the luxury of forgetting. It isn't something most people of color ever completely forget. Even on our best days, even when our life is good, even when we're surrounded by wonderful people, that awareness never fully disappears. Now let me be clear. I'm not defending what happened. I'm not minimizing it. I'm not trying to throw shade at anyone who was hurt or angry by it. Those images, we should be angry. Because hate deserves to be confronted. But I also think perspective matters. The overwhelming majority of white Americans do not subscribe to a white nationalist belief. Researchers try to estimate the size of these movements. And while it's difficult to measure precisely, they represent a very small fraction of the population. They're loud, they're visible, but they're not the majority. that's an important distinction. because if we begin believing that every white person secretly believes those ideas, then hate has already succeeded in dividing us. Most white Americans reject racism. Most parents are trying to raise good kids. Most people simply want to live peaceful lives with their neighbors. I believe that. I've experienced that. Some of the people who've encouraged me the most in my life have been white. Some have been black, some have been Hispanic, some have been Asian. Goodness isn't limited to one race. Neither is hate. But here's the part we can't ignore. Small groups can still cause enormous damage. History has taught us that. Hate doesn't need to be popular, it only needs to be organized. It only needs enough people willing to spread fear. And sometimes it only needs everyone else to stay silent. There's an old saying the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is good people do nothing. Now, whether or not Edmund Burke actually said those exact words almost doesn't matter. The principle is true. Silence has consequences. Ignoring hate doesn't make it disappear. Pretending it isn't there doesn't weaken it. If anything, it gives it room to grow. Over the past several years, it feels like hate has found its voice again. Social media rewards, outrage, algorithms reward anger. People say things online they never say face to face. Extremes get attention. Moderation gets ignored. And before long, the loudest voices begin sounding like the majority, but they aren't. They're simply louder. That's why the rest of us have to speak. Not with hate, not with insult, not with revenge, but with courage and honesty and compassion, with facts and actions. If you're a parent, teach your children that every human being has dignity. If you're a teacher, keep teaching history honestly. The good parts, the painful parts, all of it. If you're a coach, model respect. If you're a pastor, preach love louder than fear. If you're a neighbor, get to know people who don't look like you. Because real conversations destroy stereotypes faster than the internet arguments ever will. sometimes people ask, are things getting worse? I don't know. Maybe some of what's happening today has always existed. Maybe we're just seeing more of it because everyone carries a camera with them now. Either way, our responsibility stays the same. Confront hate, reject racism, stand up to one another. Don't excuse it when it comes out of your own side. Don't ignore it because it's politically inconvenient. Character isn't measured by who we criticize. It's measured by what we're willing to confront when it comes close to home. You know, America has always been complicated. Our history includes incredible courage. And incredible injustice, freedom and oppression, progress and setbacks, hope and heartbreak all at the same time. Those truths don't cancel out each other. They're both part of our story. As we celebrate 250 years of this country, I think we owe ourselves honesty. We shouldn't pretend the ugly chapters don't exist. But we also shouldn't pretend they're the whole story. The America I know is millions of people from every background trying to build something better than what they inherited. That's worth protecting, and it's worth fighting for. Not with fists, not with hatred, but with integrity, with education, with courage, with friendship. Because hate is learned, that means respect can be taught, fear can be challenged, and understanding can grow. That every generation gets to decide what kind of country it wants to leave behind. So let's leave one that's a little kinder than the one we inherited. One that's more honest, one that's more united. One where our children know enough history to recognize hate when they see it, and enough humanity to refuse to become part of it. Guys, that's it for today. Thanks for listening. I'm your average Delton. Until next time, keep asking the hard questions. Keep listening to one another and never stop believing that ordinary people can make extraordinary differences. And please remember this: your life is the only sermon some people will ever hear. So make it loud. And I'll leave you with this. Hate may shout, its voice may rise, trying hard to blind our eyes. But louder still, if we decide, can be the truth we will not hide. Teach our children, lead with grace, see the human, not the race. For every heart that's taught to care plants hope that grows beyond despair. The future isn't billed by fear, but by the courage to stay near. To stand for right when wrong appears, to trade our anger for our ears. So let love be loud, let kindness start in every home and in every heart. For history's pen is in our hand. Together we decide this land. I'm your average Dalton. Out.