Racial Bias and the Need for Change

by Willie Keys

As a black man in this world, I would like to convey my thoughts on the current unrest in our country and the issue of how blacks are viewed and treated in the United States.

If one would ask me, “If given a choice whether to be born black or white, which would you choose?” Knowing what I do now, even with the trials and tribulations I have experienced, the answer is and always will be unequivocally black. I would choose being black over any other ethnicty because it was God’s decision for me to be a Black American. We live in one of the greatest countries in the world. We have rights and privileges that make people of other countries marvel in amazement. 

We are not a perfect country, and there are ways we can improve as a nation. We need to be more open to change in how we view each other. We must change our future by leaving behind our historic prejudices, injustices and negative pre-conceived ideas about African Americans, Native Americans and any other ethnic groups. We can’t let all the injustices of the past be a part of our future as a nation. In my heart I know prejudices, injustices and negative pre-conceived notions about ethnic groups will not be completely eliminated during my lifetime. But it is not my prayer for this country’s history of treating people of color with disrespect, disdain and outright hatred to continue. I don’t want us to forget about our country’s past negative history of inhumane treatment to people who are not white but to use it as motivation to make us a better nation of people, able to live in harmony. Therefore, I desire to promote a level playing field for all, giving all an opportunity to be a valuable asset to this country.   

We must start somewhere. Here are few of my suggestions to build a solid foundation toward living together successfully as a nation.  

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Vigilance
As believers in God, it is incumbent of us to be vigilant in recognizing prejudices, injustices, negative pre-conceived ideas and evil acts toward people of color and having the courage to stand up for the rights of others. Is that not what Jesus did by dying a vicarious death for us?

Romans 5:6-8 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Proverbs 22:22-23
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; For the Lord will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

Zechariah 7:10
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.

Established Relationships
We as believers should establish relationships with people who don’t look like us. Be deliberate when the opportunity avails itself. Take advantage of the opportunity to start a conversation. You will be amazed at how this small gesture may be the catalyst for a lasting relationship/friendship that will feed your soul for many years to come.

Be Intentional
My brothers and sisters if you are not serious about changing the world for the better and just want to ride the waves of this current movement on the sidelines, that is truly a viable option. But if you are convicted to make the world a better place for all, use your talents and skills to be that person to make a positive difference for future generations of people of color and the world in general. God loves a compassionate and loving heart.         

James 2:2-4
For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or ‘Sit here at my footstool.’ Have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Open Dialogue
Ask God to provide you with the opportunity to have open dialogue with people of color. I pray the open dialogue will produce by-products of understanding, education, a healthy dose of love, internal reconciliation and a genuine concern for each other. Hopefully it will dismantle any old prejudices stemmed by racial bias passed down to you by your ancestors.    

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (NIV)

Unmerited Grace 
The word grace in the Bible refers to the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.      

John 1:14-16
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

A Plea for Help
A black man trying to tell the white masses about systemic prejudices and injustices of ethnic groups is a futile effort on my part. History has shown me that we are seen as complainers, and the legal system supports that thought process by its actions. You are taught to trust the police and what your ancestors have taught you about us as a race. Now that truth has reared its ugly head through social media giving truth to the racial injustice, the claims can’t be refuted. It’s incumbent of you as white Americans to tell this nation that our history of the way people of color were treated was wrong. As part of the human race, the color of our skin should not be a deterrent to being afforded all the same opportunities you have enjoyed, to be successful and unrestricted in our endeavors. 

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 1:13-17
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.

In closing, our ability to decrease the sting of the wrongs of the past starts like a mustard seed. It starts with doing small deeds for each other, showing compassion, being open to difficult conversations and listening with an open and loving heart. When given the opportunity, before we reach for HATE, choose LOVE. Start teaching our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that the buck stops with each one of us in the way we love each other. I pray to God for our conviction to love like Jesus. When we as believers start working toward changing this world to be a beacon of light and hope for all, then we are on the righteous path. Step back and watch God be God in your life. AMEN!       

Author Bio
Willie serves as the Senior Adult Minister at CRBC. He is praying for our churches, communities, our country and the world to start working together to touch the heart of God by the way we treat and love one another.