Does color matter? Obviously it does. Our society is plagued with issues on race and everyone is terribly afraid to discuss them. Myself on the other hand would rather put a magnifying glass to the issue. How else can a problem be fixed; it surely won't fix itself. I believe one key to life is to not worry proving others wrong but proving yourself right. Also not to get caught up trying to be superior to others but refuse to feel inferior to others. When will the black community overcome the stigma of race/color that society has attached to us? I won't sit here and say there aren't struggles associated with being black. I remember Hurricane Katrina 2005 and being called a "refugee" on the same soil I reside and pay taxes as a citizen. Also I live under the social blanket that "all black men are dogs." With good reason that title exist but its demeaning also. That's neither here nor there. There is a constant battle between dark skin and fair skin blacks. Which I think is ridiculous. Whatever happened to unity? I've had a guy tell me that I was jealous because he was fairer skinned than myself. My response was simply this: in the eyes of some you and I are still viewed as niggers and you're as shallow as a kiddie pool to make such a trivial statement. I have friends who will only date fair skin blacks which I think is terribly ridiculous. But those who are affected most are the children. When I see shows and little children who are innocent to everything in the world but have an inferior complex due to their skin color is heartbreaking to say the least. This is why I speak so heavily against this black vs. black battle that is going on. There are numerous scriptures in the bible where it states that God does not regard the person. Christians are made in the image of God. Just imagine if we disregarded the person and only the character and the heart of the person. This would be a much better world to live in.
The race war within the black community is near the top of issues that cause concerns. How wonderful it is to be a race with a wide range of shades but we make it an issue that divides us. Many point back to slavery. I counter with the fact that slaves only sat in slavery so long before something was to be done. Furthermore, many said enough with excuses time for some action. So how long are we going to use slavery as a crutch? I urge you as you read this that our community has to come from under the umbrella of slavery. We need action. I wish I had the influence. I would make it my mission along with bringing people to Christ to unite the black community. In Matthew 12 Jesus answered the Pharisees and asked them how can a kingdom divided stand instead it would face desolation. So my question is this: how much longer will the black community be divided on the issue that is skin color which none have any control over. Murder, abortion and jail is depleting the race. Also there are more pressing issues like education which would alleviate the many ills affecting all. I can absolutely care less what hue your brown skin is. We're all beautiful. If you're not a genuine person with holy motives than you need to reexamine yourself. Color is really only skin deep. Don't be color struck.
A couple years back I struggled with race inferiority. I work in an area where there are fifty people and two percent of those are black. I asked myself what am I doing here and how did I get this position. I felt I wasn't intellectually or intelligent enough to be in this specific area. I'll describe to you how our imagination and early surroundings are the roots to the problem. Growing up as a black kid in the inner city you quickly realize the difference in opportunities offered due to skin color. Automatically we are prone to think we are superior or inferior to others; in my case I felt inferior. I was accepted into one of the top private schools in New Orleans but due to me feeling inferior I left no rug unturned to get expelled so that I could be where I was comfortable and in many instances superior to other students. Now I'm in the Air Force faced with the same problems. As I sat and pondered, there was no way out. So I imagined all of these situations where I would be embarrassed or shown inferior to others, just feeling lucky to be where I was. Every time there was an opportunity to advance I let my imagination display every possible scenario until I was convinced that there was no way so I retreated back to my comfort zone. There are vices, fears and issues that keep a stronghold onto us through a more significant issues (race/skin color). And once purged from the root the additional vices, fears and issues have nothing to feed on. We must put negative thoughts on a diet and starve them and in turn feed the positive thoughts giving them sufficient care to ensure growth. Our imagination turns molehills into mountains when we aren't equipped with the correct mental tools to analyze and fix problems. As I read the bible more and more I was assured that I'm not filled with a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind 2 Timothy 1:7. Power to overcome, love to endure and a sound mind to analyze and act accordingly.
This civil race war can be put to an end, but only when those involved are prepared to do so. I can honestly say that I fear many aren't prepared to. For the simple fact that it gives them a lifeline when life goes awry. We also support the television shows, music and entertainment that demeans our race. As I stated before we have to take responsibility for our future and stop hoping someone will provide an avenue out. Seeing that we are the ones dealing with it but we also add fuel to the fire by buying into the fact that one skin color is superior to another within the race is where the problem resides. Once we become comfortable with ourselves and love who we are created by God. Then and only then can progress be made. I recommend whenever a race issues arises or any for that matter that you read Hebrews 12 and consider Christ. The author and finisher of our faith. God bless. Love to all no matter the race.
Well said…. The “Dark Skin” documentary isn't really empowerment. It's giving a microphone to a painful topic but there is no strategy. There needs to be a strategy and I think that is why and how Black People tend to think they are empowering people when they are just creating spaces to recite grievances. We have got to improve in understanding our limits of education and misguided education about processing what we can control and can't. To empower these women would be to give a strategy or strategies. Whenever we can muster up the courage to do those things, our collective minds will be emancipated from the Mental Slavery that is still causing us to fry our brains. I agree WE, whom have overcome the “hood” are charged with reaching back to help others, educating people and offering encouragement or whatever it is we can do to help.
ReplyDeleteAs far as our males, a vast majority of black males do not read a lot nor do they know their history. They are easily fed into these things because they do not understand and they are not strong enough to combat it. I am deeply saddened at just how pervasive the "color struck" scripting still is and being reinforced by our own people. Despite my many attempts to engage some of my male friends who are in this "color struck" dialogue and the need to address these crazy making influences in our relationships, I generally get a deaf ear or am called “bitter” made to feel as if I’m the one with the problem. It also saddens me at the number of fatherless kids; the numbers are steady climbing in jails, murders, homosexuality etc. On another note, I can’t go without leaving our females out. We have been brainwashed to model these reality t.v. shows that gives a negative perception of black women. As women we also have to discontinue allowing ourselves to get involved in these types of situations. Speaking from a single mom perspective I have to take responsibility for my current situation. How do you avoid further situations as so….The only way I seen fit was to give myself all to God and allow him to walk ahead of me? I feel the more liberal the world becomes, the more Americans tend to steer away from Christianity and seeking God in all things we do.