Latest / Jo Watson: Unfiltered Faith / Racism: When silence at work feels safer than truth
Transcript
- Jo Watson: Welcome back to Unfiltered Faith. I'm Joe Watson and it's time to breathe. Time to slow down. Time to let your shoulders drop and time to step into the sanctuary. Not the sanctuary we're all so familiar with, but the one that God is building inside you. Family, some conversations don't just touch the mind, they touch the soul. They touch the places where dignity has been bruised, where courage feels small, and where silence feels safer than truth. Today's episode is for anyone who has ever sat in a room where their identity made them a target, and their paycheck made them quiet while their heart was breaking. A listener wrote in with a letter that carries the weight of being a person of color in a workplace where racism is treated like casual conversation and where gaslighting is used as a shield. Let's listen with compassion. Dear unfiltered faith, I am a person of color and I work in a job where people make racist comments. It's destroying me. I hear the jokes, the remarks, the comments about clients or people who come in for our services, and I sit in silence. Not because I agree, but because I need my job. What hurts even more is when they say things like I'm not talking about you, when in reality they absolutely are. I want them to stop making the comments and I want them to know how racist they really are, but I don't know how to survive this or stand up for myself. It's a small office, so there really isn't anyone I can talk to. Sincerely ashamed I don't have the courage to speak up. Thank you for your honesty. Your letter carries the weight of someone who is trying to survive in a space that was not built with you in mind. Let me say this clearly. You are not imagining this, you are not too sensitive, and you are not overreacting, and you are being harmed. And when someone says I I'm not talking about you while looking directly at you, while referencing people who look like you, while laughing in a way that dares you to challenge them. That is not innocence. That is not ignorance. That is gaslighting. It is a way of saying I want to say racist things without accountability, and I expect you to sit here quietly while I do it. So hear me when I say your silence does not mean agreement. Your discomfort does not mean weakness. Your shame does not mean failure. It means you're trying to protect your livelihood in an environment that is emotionally unsafe. Scripture says in Psalms one hundred thirty nine verse one. Lord, you have searched me and you know me. God knows your heart, even when your mouth is quiet. You are not complicit, you are conflicted. And that conflict is evidence of your integrity. But here's the truth, you do not have to choose between your job and your dignity. There are ways of responding that protect. Both. Number one, respond with presence, not performance. You don't have to debate, you don't have to confront, you don't have to educate anyone. Sometimes the most powerful protest is simply not participating. Your stillness is a statement. People of color have always had to discern when to use their voice and And when stillness was the safer, wiser choice. Number two, use gentle, non confrontational boundaries. You can say things like I'm not comfortable with that, or let's keep it professional, or I'd rather not talk about people that way. Or that comment doesn't sit right with me. Make it short, simple, and Noncombative but clear. These phrases don't escalate, they illuminate. They let people know you heard them, you see them, and you will not silently absorb their prejudice. three, name the gas lighting without confrontation. When someone says I'm not talking about you, you can respond with it still affects me or Comments like that land differently for me. Or you can say, even if it wasn't about me, it impacts me. And remember, you don't have to prove their racism, you don't have to expose their motives, you don't have to carry the burden of educating them. You only have to protect your peace. Number four, protect your peace first. If the environment is hostile, God does not require you to be a martyr. Proverbs chapter four verse twenty three says Guard your heart above all else. Guarding your heart is holy work. And hear me, you are not alone. You are not invisible, and you are not powerless. To everyone listening, maybe you've been the only person of color in the room. Maybe you've heard or seen the jokes circulated that weren't funny, comments that weren't harmless, statements that weren't just conversation. Maybe you've been told I'm not talking about you as if your identity is somehow separate from the people they're mocking. And maybe you sat in silence because you needed your job, your paycheck, your stability. Let me tell you something. God sees the rooms you sit in, and He sees the courage it takes just to be there. Scripture says in Isaiah 54:17: No work weapon formed against you shall prosper. That includes the weapon of racism, the weapon of intimidation, the weapon of isolation, the weapon of gaslighting. And scripture also says in Micah chapter six, verse eight: Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Sometimes doing justice looks like speaking of. Sometimes Doing justice looks like stepping back. Sometimes doing justice looks like protecting your peace until God opens another door. There is no shame in surviving. I want to stop here and take a moment to pray with this listener who wrote this letter, and for anyone listening today who has had to sit quietly and In order to keep their livelihood for themselves or their family. Let's pray. Father, today we lift up every listener who has ever sat in a room where their identity made them a target, every person who has swallowed pain to keep a paycheck. We lift up every heart that has felt small or unseen or unsafe. Lord, we ask that you give them courage that is wise. Give them strength that is gentle. Give them discernment that protects their future. And give them peace that silences shame. Cover them in your love. Surround them with your presence. Steady their feet and remind them that you are with them in every room they enter. In Jesus' name. Amen. To someone listening today, you will not be silenced by fear. You will not be defined by shame. You will not be intimidated by ignorance. You will not lose your dignity to keep your job. God is giving you wisdom for every conversation, strength for every room, and courage for every moment. You will rise. You will speak when God says speak. You will stand when God says stand. And you will walk away when God says walk away. You are protected. You are covered. And you are seen. Family, thank you for joining me today. Remember this: your courage is not measured by how loudly you speak. But by how faithfully you live. God is with you in every room and He will guide you in every response. And if you are carrying a weight that feels too heavy to hold, please remember that this podcast is not a substitute for professional therapy or pastoral care. Reach out. Get the support you need. You deserve that kind of care. And if you would like to send in a question or share a story with Unfiltered Faith, you can reach us at Joe at Unfiltered Faithpod.com. Your testimonies matter. Your experiences matter. They help others grow. They encourage weary hearts. And they draw people closer to Jesus. Until next time, family. Unfiltered faith, God is moving, so stay ready, and to God be the glory.