r-a-c-i-s-m
I don't know what it feels like to be a person of color who has dealt with a lifetime of racism, prejudice and discrimination. However, I do know what it feels like to listen to a friend who has.
My friend shared her fears about her teenager being targeted because of his skin color. She said that in rural Alabama, awful things happen to young black men. They can disappear without a trace, never to be seen again. She added that she and other black parents start teaching their sons at an early age how to behave when out and about.
In regard to law enforcement, their sons are taught always to act with respect, always to keep their hands where they can be seen, and never to make any sudden moves. Let me reiterate that these types of “lifesaving skills” begin when their kids are still very, very young. She told me these things almost 20 years ago when both of our sons were still young teenagers.
My heart grieved for her as only a mother’s heart could. I never had to consider such things when raising my son. He’s never had to deal with the type of prejudice that her son has dealt with. She informed me of these injustices before the name Trayvon Martin ever hit our national radar. His tragic death was the first time that many white people learned of the extra “precautions” black parents must instill in their kids.
As a parent, I want to stop the senselessness of it all. But what can a white empty-nester like me possibly do?
One thing I do know is that I don’t want to be insensitive to a person’s plight due to the color of their skin. I’d rather be called to the carpet if someone discerns such ignorance in me. Unfortunately, I haven’t always been aware when someone nearby has had a racial slur thrown at them.
With that said, I’ve been paying closer attention to the stories told by those affected by racism. Several social-media influencers, who happen to be black, have given me a lot of insight. And I’ve educated myself even more regarding the many issues that divide our nation. I know others have done the same.
Some of those others are Christians who have journeyed to the frontlines of the current protests taking place throughout our nation. Most are much younger than me, yet they possess a wisdom far beyond their years. They’ve watched the power of God move in the midst of these demonstrations. They’ve shared their faith and seen lives changed, suddenly, even among some of the most radical protesters.
At this moment, I don’t claim to have the solutions for the racial divide in our land. However, there is a book that tells of someone who experienced prejudice and confronted it. That book is the Bible. And that someone is Jesus Christ.
Jesus was a Jew, and the Jewish people have experienced racism for centuries. On top of that, Jesus was raised in Nazareth. Others didn’t think highly of the people from that region as mentioned in the following scripture:
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” (John 1:45-46 NKJV)
Philip recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. And despite Nathanael’s derogatory comment about a Nazarene, Philip urged him to find out for himself if Jesus was the One.
Nathanael did eventually realize who Jesus was. Jesus was the One who came to save all mankind and to set us free from the chains that bind. And that includes the chains of prejudice that divide people.
Jesus bridged such a divide with a Samaritan woman He encountered at Jacob’s well. He told her things about herself that no ordinary person would have known. He broke through their racial barrier. Touched by the unconditional love of our Savior, the woman left the well and told the townspeople about Jesus. (John 4:1-30)
Just like Jesus, Christians can break down racial barriers also. One way is by correcting—in a loving manner—the people in our own ethnic group who use racist words when describing someone of a different ethnic group. We can also be a beacon of light to others by keeping the biblical command to “love your neighbor as yourself” no matter the color of their skin.
Have a blessed day!
“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:35-39 NKJV)
