Black

I have never really understood racial prejudice. And here, I have grown up in the south. I know that our nation has advanced by incredible strides, as is evidenced by a black man holding the most powerful office...but I know we have so far to go.

I remember as a very young girl, feeling that there was supposed to be a difference in my mind between black people and white people, but my heart couldn't come to terms with that. And as I grew older, into middle school, my heart became even more conflicted. I ran track and participated in other activities at school where all the races just came together as one big cohesive mesh. So why couldn't we always just be a sticky group of people, rather than classified by our colorful or colorless skin?

In 8th grade, a beautiful friendship between myself and one of our schools most beloved boys, became amazing friends. He was black. People started to talk. During my freshman year of high school, my boyfriend was black. During my sophomore year of highschool, my boyfriend was bi-racial (black, white, and Filipino). I was the class "nigger-lover" and people made sure I knew how they felt. Ironically, a lot of the white kids...blacklisted me.

I was so surprised when I went to Zimbabwe last year, that there was very much a sense of class distinction between the black and the white Africans. I would see in a few situations where the black people would be more reserved around white people, in the expectation that the white people were going to act supreme. Once a determination could be made about the entitlement position (or lack of) of the white person, only then, would a black person seem more relaxed. I didn't want anyone to look at me and wonder if I was mean or abusive, so I just always had a smile on my face. It made the biggest difference. There is just no reason on this earth that we should have any belief that one person is less than another person. (child rapists excluded - i'm just sayin). But even in God's eyes, that person can be forgiven.

Some of the scariest people I have ever seen have been white men. Think about it. I watch the news and it seems that the majority of child predators are white men. White men go to prison too. White men steal cars, rape women, shoot people, and cheat on their wives. A man's true self is his spirit and his heart.....and has no bearing on the color of his skin.

We are called to love people, not rank them according to color.

Jesus was neither black, nor white. And although he was King of Kings, he didn't wear jewels and crowns, designer clothes, or live in a mansion on a hill. He was a jewish carpenter of humble means. He taught about character of heart. He taught love. He taught servanthood. He taught equality. And he taught..... do unto others.......... not racial discrimination.