Racism

[Bathilde]

The Shadow of Racism in American Heathenry

ne facet of the American Heathen community I found curious when I first began visiting Asatru and Heathen websites and groups was the all but absent connection to such groups within Europe, particularly those within the Nordic countries. One would think that such connections would not only exist, but would also be paramount to the development of groups in the United States, as they help create bridges to the cultural heirs of the pre-Christian Norse and thus give more nuanced perspectives into the values of these people and how relevant they are in today’s society. Even though one of the larger organizations in the United States, the Troth, boasts about its international presence, it is hard to discern due not only to the Troth’s antiquated website that offers little comment on the matter, but also because of the absence of such a presence on the Troth’s social media pages.

Why is there a lack of connection and collaboration amongst European and American Heathen groups? Quite frankly, racism.

[schwarzesonne]

While the history offered in this piece is certainly accurate I believe that the author oversimplifies matters by boiling entire constellations of influences down to “racist” and “non-racist” elements.

To approach the first question of why American Heathen organizations don't have more of a connection with European counterparts, yes, racism has something to do with it—in both directions. On one hand there have been European groups such as Eldaring (a break-off from The Troth) and Rabenclan that demonstrated suspicion of racialist elements in American Heathenry; on the other hand there have been organizations such as the Allgermanische Heidnische Front and Comunità Odinista that have expressed concerns that American Heathens weren't racist enough. More frequently, though, we have seen issues with organizations such as Foreningen Forn Sed and Ásatrúarfélagið wherein questions of race were never an issue, but, instead a more obvious question would arise: “You're not from our country, so why would you want to practice our nation’s spirituality?”

Getting back to racism the states... Anyone with an history book knows that non-white folks have had a HUGE impact on our culture. The most obvious areas would include Mexican influence in the South-west and black influence in the South-east. Not to mention Amerindian influences from the plains regions to the West Coast! And does anyone really think that all those Chinatowns dotting the map haven't had some impact on American culture? Consider, for example, that ALL American musical styles (gospel, blues, folk, R&B, country, jazz, rock, soul, swing, bluegrass, and hip hop) originated by blending the licks and instrumentation of white and black musicians except surf music-- and that was pioneered by Dick Dale, an Arab-American who applied Arabian folk music to a rock 'n roll backdrop. Obviously this cultural mixing goes beyond music, but music makes for an easy example. Some Americans have embraced this phenomenon as something characterizing what defines American culture; others react against it.
Americans have always had difficulty dealing with issues of ethnicity and of race. Probably one of the earliest historical examples would be when the question of allowing Quebec to become the 14th state came up. Congress voted it down because they didn't want the largest state (which would bear a large number in the House of Representatives) to be run by Frenchmen. Similarly, one of the biggest reasons that alcohol prohibition passed in the early 1900s had to do with anti-German sentiment (who else would have been making all that beer?). Today we hear people griping in some regions about Brazilian immigrants and in others about Arabic immigrants. Not so long ago the reaction was toward Vietnamese and Cambodians. But in time all these have been stirred into our “melting pot” and have contributed to making this country what it is—despite some people's intrinsic resistance to change.

The question, when it comes to Heathenry--and this is where I believe the difficulty becomes magnified--is how we reconcile this cultural mixing as American citizens while at the same time emphasizing the importance of heritage in our spirituality. It should come as no surprise that different people and different groups have come up with divergent ways to answer these questions.

[Bathilde]

One answer I've heard is to the way of the Amish and just build our own religious communities separate and independent from th rest of the country.

I don't think separatism is the answer though.

[schwarzesonne]

...And, of course, the Amish are all German-Americans.

[Bathilde]

I would call them Amish-American.

[schwarzesonne]

Amish & Mennonites are all German-Americans who descend from the Anabaptist religious tradition. Both are known from their intrinsic tribalism and their rejection of certain technologies in their homes (although a surprising number of them work in technological fields). Their differentiation, though, is not so much because of race or even of ethnicity but for religious reasons. They would certainly make a great study for all those neo-tribalists out there!

[JarlErn]

Amish & Mennonites are all German-Americans who descend from the Anabaptist religious tradition. Both are known from their intrinsic tribalism and their rejection of certain technologies in their homes (although a surprising number of them work in technological fields). Their differentiation, though, is not so much because of race or even of ethnicity but for religious reasons. They would certainly make a great study for all those neo-tribalists out there!

I have family ties to many Mennonites and Amish, theyre a decent people for the most part. I know Mennonites, not Amish, use many Hex symbols to protect their houses, many of which are vaguely runic in appearance. And of course theres Urgwaale, which takes much from their traditions.