Civil rights advocates did not ask for freedom {for all} in order {for some} to remain in bondage. Are you afraid of equality?

What might your family say, or how will they react to your choices of friends and associates? Will your peers consider you the ‘odd man out’? Can you withstand the charge of being called a race traitor, a sellout, and not acting black? The ire of one’s detractors may be raised simply by you going to school and studying to earn good grades. Making unconventional choices in the foods you eat, not heralding certain musicians or clothing styles and certain recreational interests are also taboo. Using proper language skills or making the ‘wrong’ political choices will be used as a Sword of Damocles against you to force conformity. To succumb to these pressures and change your views and interests, will confine you to the smallest circle of the concentric, and stifle your growth as an individual. Granted, some of the attacks may stem from ignorance, but most are made with malice to achieve an end. Your adversary need only be motivated by envy, jealousy and/or profit.

Consider children on a playground. If not taught any negatives as it pertains to racial differences, their only concern is the game before them. As they increase in age, the likelihood of discriminatory tendencies in matters of race will be minimal to non-existent. Conversely, during development, suggestions and teachings of ethnic superiority or inferiority will diminish the ability of that child to fairly assess others in matters of character as he matures. Where did you learn your fear of equality?

You can eliminate your fears of equality and strengthen your ability to discern the character of others by answering the following pertinent questions:

  1. Who, by their words and actions, will place limits on my abilities and opportunities to prevent me from reaching a goal?
  2. Will my life be enhanced by those I encounter daily?
  3. Have I the humility to enrich the life of those I encounter?

First, to answer these questions requires the courage to act on the belief that, “I am no less or greater a person than those I encounter, but gracious enough to dismantle the psychological barriers to equality which may be presented.” From where does the strength to act emanate? The original premise and strength of those who sought freedom and fought for equality can be found in their religious roots. Reference, The Book of Psalms, chapters 27, 31 and 35, King James Version of The Bible. While there are disagreements as to the legitimacy of Divine Providence, I do, however accept the premise of a Creator and His ownership of man’s immortal soul.

Second, to understand the inner conflict, which is, an emotional first reaction to what is reasonable, coupled with what is reasonable, directs you to the logical conclusion of equality of individuals without regard to race. For example, is it reasonable that criminal activities perpetrated by men who are black speak to your character because you are also black? Of course not, this is a ridiculous assertion to make. The logical and correct conclusion is, of course: if you are not involved in the nefarious activity, you should be left out of the equation when judgment of that activity is rendered. The truly emancipated and fair-minded citizen will relegate stereotypical views concerning race to the pages of ignorant history where they belong.

Are you still not confident in, and fearful of, what you know to be true? That truth being it is the individual and his actions, not the race of the person which should be the determinate factor in your assessment of his character. In stronger terms; just as ‘driving while black’ is a repulsive standard, so is ‘lynching while white.’

 

 

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