Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. Racism has been existing in this world for long period of time. Racial segregation has become a norm in some parts of the world, especially in the third world countries. Protests are not common in those places obviously because of its nonviolent, harmless and helping nature. World- wide colonialism by the British took racism to another level as it involved violent oppression, force, and taking away of rights and privileges. The names of Nelson Mandela, who spent twenty-eight years in prison, who played a key role in dismantling the system of racial apartheid and who became the first black president of South Africa, and Mahatma Gandhi who won freedom for India will be honored forever. After the pilgrims from Europe invaded the land of America starting from 1565, they fought with the Red Indians, who were the original inhabitants of the land, for two centuries until they got pushed to a reservation. This took a toll on the lives of at least 50,000 people from both sides. According to the official UN estimate, the number of Africans killed in various ways during the transatlantic slave trade is at least seventeen million from 16th to 19th centuries. They died in capture, during the voyage at sea, due to disease, starvation and back-breaking labor. Men, women, and children were forcefully kidnapped from the streets of Africa, inhumanly tied down together, and kept in unhealthy conditions in ships for days. Slavery took a toll on the lives and lifestyle of African Americans from 1619 to 1870 in America. The white owners of the slaves treated them unfairly, denied them proper food, wages and freedom, physically abused them, sold them to different owners, and even took their children and spouses away from them inhumanly. Even after the Civil War and the freedom obtained by the African Americans, racism has been still existing in America in some form. The murder of innocent Martin Luther King, Jr., a clergyman and a civil rights activist, in 1968 has been sadly remembered. The death of George Floyd in the hands of police officers in Minneapolis in May 2020 after being handcuffed has drawn world- wide media attention, especially through world-wide protests, which will be recorded in the world history forever. This is a wake- up call for the entire world to realize that racism is not acceptable, especially when it involves the murder of a person.
Racism is a sin in the eyes of God as per the Bible. “God created man in His image; in the divine image He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27). Every human being has a divine image, and the color of the skin, gender, ethnicity etc. should not be downgraded by anyone. Jesus said, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering (Matthew 5:22-24). All the children of God are brothers and sisters in the eyes of God. If calling someone ‘fool’ is a sin, how much of a sin is murdering a handcuffed person by choking him for nine minutes? “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Jesus made it possible for anyone to be included in the people and the promises of God. God is not about separation, but inclusion and unity. “For the Lord, your God, is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes; who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him” (Deuteronomy 10:17, 18). When people from Europe stepped into the land of America, they themselves were aliens. No one has the right to take credit for being in America or having a specific skin color other than God. No one has earned a skin color through their merit or hard work. ”In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears Him and acts uprightly is acceptable to Him” (Acts 10:34, 35). Jesus said, “Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly” (John 7:24).
Who said that white color is a superior or attractive color worthy of extra credit? How beautiful is the color and heart of an African American! What matters to God and people around us is a clean, loving and humble heart filled with the light of God. I exhort all those who act superior, do hate crimes, have a racist mind, and practice prejudice and discrimination to repent, kneel down before God, and beg for mercy and forgiveness from God as per the Lord’s prayer taught by Jesus (Matthew 6:9-13). If anyone’s name is not found written in the book of life on the Last Judgment day, he will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). America is founded on Christian principles. Feel proud to uphold the Bible and practice the Christian value of loving every child of God.
(Cicily Sunny, NYC Retired teacher)