Tonight, I had the privilege to attend an event centered around Martin Luther King’s dream for equality. The “Sunday Supper” required for different people to sit at one table to discuss racial discrimination and ways we can prevent it in the community. It reminded me that racism is still around today, and it still needs to be fought like a disease.
The conversation started out good, not hitting any big issues in particular that any of the members faced. However, I was startled when one of the men spoke up about something we were all not expecting. He explained that one day he was driving home from work and he was pulled over by a police officer. This man was doing nothing illegal. The officer saw he was driving a Jaguar, and then saw the color of his skin, which prompted the officer to pull this innocent man over. The officer asked him questions like, “Who are you?”, and “Can I see a form of identification?”
This absolutely infuriated me. The fact that this man couldn’t even feel welcome in his own community was baffling. I mean c’mon, he was stopped for absolutely nothing. As he was talking about the memory, you could see the frustration in his eyes.
When another in the group commented on to his story saying “Well this diversity issue…” he stopped her to say, “No. This is not a diversity issue. This is a moral issue, a conflict between knowing right from wrong.”
Wow. Isn’t he right? The solution to this problem doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be simple. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Fair and square. See the good in others as you would want others to see the good in you.
When we make it all about different races, we lose sight of character. People are not defined by the tone of their skin, they are defined by their character. Why do we look at others and discriminate for reasons they cannot control? You can control your character, but you cannot control the color of your skin.
I recently saw the movie “Hidden Figures”, and it reminded me of the discrimination many African Americans faced in the 1960’s. Thanks to Martin Luther King (cough cough Martin Luther King Day) and many other advocates who stood up for what is right, America has progressed drastically. But we still have a long, long way to go. That doesn’t mean racism, discrimination, “othering”, and segregation aren’t an issue anymore. But we have the power to make a difference. Martin Luther King Jr. and many others would want us to step up and make a difference.
People should not be defined by the color of their skin, but of the content of their character. Learn to know people for who they truly are. Everyone is different, everyone has something new to bring to the table. Let’s embrace who we are, lets embrace our differences. Because it is our differences that make this world we live in so darn incredible.
We need to look past the stereotypes, we need to stop jumping to conclusions. This goes for that girl in your class who raises her hand for everything, this goes for that one neighbor who never leaves their home, this goes for that one guy at work who never looks you in the eye. Look past the superficial differences, and take the time to see them for who they are as a person. It is as simple as that.
Do not let fear get the best of you. When we see people for the distorted view of who we think they are, fear is building inside of us. They can’t get to know me because they will do this, this and this. Or wow I need to say something. This looks like it could be something bad.
Let’s not assume things without reasons to assume them. Lets look past our fears, and lets live our lives in love.
Have a block party, invite every single neighbor so you can get to know them all for who they are. Talk to one another. Reach out to those you don’t normally reach out to at work, or even in the classroom. Make an effort to be intentional with everyone. Make an effort to treat everyone with a deep, genuine compassion.
1 Peter 4:8 says “Above all, love one another deeply”.
Look past the differences, and instead look for what is inside the heart. You just may be surprised at what you find.
Xoxo,
Ash
