COR N E LL | On Campus
A Conversation on Race
CHESTERTON HOUSE, CLARITAS HOST DISCUSSION
By Zachary Lee, Cornell ’20
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Although he heard the Gospel text, then we’re not seeing them.”
eptember was a difficult month
at Cornell University as a couple message, he still found himself search- Citing Galatians 3:28 (“There is nei-
of racially-charged incidents occurred ing for his identity in sports or aca- ther Jew nor Greek…), he explained
on or near campus. On September demic abilities. He also experienced how many people often use this verse
6, a fraternity member from Zeta very direct racism within his commu- as a justification to say that race is not
Psi chanted “Build a wall!” around nity. As Chen grappled with a sense important. Instead, Chen shared how
the Latino Living Center.
A few weeks later, an Afri-
can-American student was
walking down the streets of
Collegetown and was at-
tacked by a group of white
men who repeatedly hurled
racial epithets. These events
reflected a painful reality
that even an institution like
Cornell deals with very real
issues of race.
It was into this climate
that Michael Chen came to
Cornell for the “Claritas
Conversation on Race and
Rhetoric.” Chen, Dart-
Michael Chen, Dartmouth ’01, is the director of the cross-cultural ministries for the Coalition for
mouth ’01, is the director
Christian Outreach.
of cross-cultural ministries
for the Coalition for Chris-
tian Outreach. The event was spon- of belonging, his sister asked him a the beauty of the Gospel is that peo-
sored by Chesteron House and Cornell poignant question, “What does God ple can come from diverse back-
think about your situation?” He was grounds and cultures and still enter
Claritas, a Christian journal.
Chen began by sharing his first flabbergasted. “I could not conceive into purposeful and intentional com-
experiences with racism. He grew up of a God who would be thinking me,” munity; they do not have to “stop
in Minnesota in a majority Swedish he said. Soon after, he resolved to being a part of ” their culture.
and Lutheran culture (he humorous- understand and know the heart of
“God calls us not just to coexist
ly referred to himself as a “Scandan- God and turned to the Psalms. Chen with one another, but to delight in
Asian”). His parents, immigrants from realized how deeply loved and accept- and embrace one another,” Chen said.
Taiwan, sent him and his siblings to ed he was by God, and his life trajec- “What would it look like for the Cor-
church because the only Chinese stu- tory was forever changed.
nell community not simply to move
When asked why it is important on from the (racial) tragedies, but
dents in the area also attended. Mi-
chael hilariously stated, “I became a for Christians to engage race issues, instead to see the young man and his
Christian because my parents wanted Chen boldly proclaimed, “If we are attackers reconciled?”
not seeing people in their racial con-
me to meet Chinese people.”
In terms of practical steps, Chen
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