All human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).
All of human life is equally valued in God’s eyes (Genesis 9:5-6).
All human life is sacred because all humans are made in the image of God, who is sacred (Genesis 9:8-10).
“Racists don’t hate; they fear.”
Racism can be found in every part and corner of the World. It has always existed and it is as old as human civilization. Racism, which is fueled by fear evolved from jealousy, envy, greed and murder. Racism is not about a specific race, it is also found within a same racial group (ethnocentrism, xenocentrism, same-race discrimination,… etc.)
Racism happens through every type of people from all walks of life. You can be white and be biased against other white people as you can be a person of color and be biased against other people of color.
The hostility of racism is more apparent today than ever and has been taken too far.
The first murder of all times is recounted in Genesis 4:1-16, when Cain killed his brother Abel in a fit of jealousy. Cain feared that God would not love him as much as He loved his brother. This was the beginning of the hatred between brothers. Each and everyone of us is subject to sinful impulses and the only way to win the battle against these desires is to choose to love by practicing acceptance.
Image Credit: Nikkolas Smith
“Hate is self-inflicting, self-destructive.”
People who hate are simply silently crying for help. They are drowning in delusions and projecting their self-inflicted wounds to the World. So, next time you come across someone who blurs out slurs and other crazy nonsense, be cool and walk away. Such individuals are not at peace with themselves.
You cannot hate what you do not understand. And once you come to understand that which you thought you hated, you start fearing it. Why? Because at this point you realize that this thing or that person is equal or better than you. You see its quality and potential and you still refuse to accept it. So you turn bitter and you want it gone without given it a chance to exist and without given yourself a chance to get to know the person. In the end, you still are not at peace, because the fear remains.
The fear of the unknown pushes some people to use all means to control it. People should be proud of who they are, of their origin and heritage. We should not, however, be proud of being racist; there is no trophy for such title, just penalties and sanctions.
Image Credit: Dolly Li
“Racism is the fear of the unknown.”
The real racists usually don’t acknowledge it because they understand the weight of the word; they find ways to prove the contrary. These individuals show little to no respect for other races and they have a peculiar way of revealing their true nature in everything they do or say. How can you recognize such people? Through their actions, non-actions and choice of words. These individuals lack empathy and when questioned, become defensive (they have been caught).
The “proud” racists a.k.a brainwashed, are just ignorant. These are the individuals whose parents sang to them from birth that other races are inferior and they grew up believing the lie. You cannot be a racist if you do not grasp the impact of the word. If you ask these people why they are so proud of being racists, none will give you a satisfactory answer or one close to making sense. When questioned, these individuals become offensive (they lack knowledge on the subject).
With the exception of those who have educated themselves on the subject and those whose forefathers were subjected to slavery, you do not understand what it means to be dehumanized if you have never been a target of it. To be proud of something so wrong and not being able to sympathize with someone else’s pain means you have lost your humanity.
Change starts with the person needing the change:
- Change starts with me. It starts with you and the rest flows.
- Our actions should always begin with self-reflection; we should talk less and listen more.
- Show others how you want to be treated and it starts with you being kind to yourself and then treating others with the same kindness.
- Don’t be violent and don’t respond to violence. Two wrongs have never made a right and silence does not equate defeat.
- Don’t let anyone drag you in their scheme – don’t willingly assist them in achieving their mission; there is no gain for you.
- When told to do something that feels unsettling, ask why, just like little children do, until you get a fair answer. Children have no other choice but to listen to their parents (who should know better). Once mature, they should seek the truth by doing their own research.
- Parents, do not rob your children of their innocence for your own agendas.
Racists are not confident individuals; they have been conditioned for too long to accept their ignorance. Confident people are happy people; they don’t belittle others because they have nothing to fear, nothing to lose. Most racists have little to no knowledge of their history and origins or they are simply ashamed of it.
They know quite well, that they too “do not belong” and so, they dislike sharing space with others for fear of being overshadowed. Ignorant people don’t like to be educated, therefore arguing with, or attempting to convince an ignorant person is a waste of time. We can only pray for their hearts and eyes to open to the truth and challenge themselves to do better.
In the face of racism, we must decry the injustice. I salute each and everyone of you for joining the fight against racism and promoting inclusion for all. Let us all be a part of the solution. Together we can create a better and safer World by becoming the voice of a silent person.
In the midst of chaos and the unknown, always choose to love.
By JM Perez
