How Do You…?

In the US we have seen senseless killings of unarmed black men and women, and we see the acceptance of a part of America that does not have a problem with innocent people of color being gunned down. What’s equally sad is the fact that the color of the skin dictates what the perception of that person represents. Throughout all of this, I am reminded of how my perception of individuals shows how stereotypical formation of the mind leads to thoughts and actions of justification. How many times have you thought the following?

• The guy riding the moped must have had his license revoked due to a DUI.
• The loud student walking through the door is not capable of achieving
• Loudness is a means of masking his lack of intellect by being the class clown. 
• Sagging pants, baseball shirt, gold chains represents thug life.
• The homeless woman or man must have some type of mental disorder.
• Showing up at the shelter for a free meal makes you undesirable.
• Missing teeth is certainly a sign of no class.
• Nicely dressed shows intellect and class.
• Going to church every Sunday means that the person is religious.
• Public display of affection is the equivalent of being a loving spouse at home.
• Working 80 hours a week means wanting to provide for a better life for the family.
• An overweight person is definitely a glutton with no self-esteem.
• A heavy female will date anybody because she is lucky to find someone who will have her.
• The quietest person in the classroom is shy and doesn’t have anything of great importance to say.
• If a person lives in Section 8 housing then they have no aspirations to do better.
• Black men want white women for one reason…
• Living in a trailer park deems you to be trash.
• Asians are naturally smart in math and science.
• Children who wear hand-me-down clothes must be from a poor family
• Skinny people are the healthiest individuals.
• The only person of color in the room must be the “exceptional Negro,” (what is the unexceptional Negro?)
• Dating another ethnicity gives you the right to say things that are socially unacceptable in other situations.
• A group of black boys are walking down the street instantly means they are up to no good.

    These are just a handful of the things that we think about and draw biased conclusions  The question is how do we change this stereotypical way of thinking? How do we catch ourselves when our minds immediately think the negative? How do we change the way that stereotyping has tainted our thought process? How will you teach your children not to live in fear? How do we revamp a justice system that does not work in favor of people of color? The following post was found on Facebook and written by an anonymous author who summarized some of the most senseless acts of violence in America against innocent people of color.

I can’t breathe AGAIN(#GeorgeFloyd)

We can’t protect ourselves in our own home (#BreonnaTaylor)

We can’t go jogging (#AhmaudArbery).

We can’t relax in the comfort of our own homes (#BothamJean and #AtatianaJefferson).

We can’t ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride).

We can’t have a cellphone (#StephonClark).

We can’t leave a party to get to safety (#JordanEdwards).

We can’t play loud music (#JordanDavis).

We can’t sell CD’s (#AltonSterling).

We can’t sleep (#AiyanaJones)

We can’t walk from the corner store (#MikeBrown).

We can’t play cops and robbers (#TamirRice).

We can’t go to church (#Charleston9).

We can’t walk home with Skittles (#TrayvonMartin).

We can’t hold a hairbrush while leaving our own bachelor party (#SeanBell).

We can’t party on New Years (#OscarGrant).

We can’t get a normal traffic ticket (#SandraBland).

We can’t lawfully carry a weapon (#PhilandoCastile).

We can’t break down on a public road with car problems (#CoreyJones).

We can’t shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford) .

We can’t have a disabled vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher).

We can’t read a book in our own car (#KeithScott).

We can’t be a 10yr old walking with our grandfather (#CliffordGlover).

We can’t decorate for a party (#ClaudeReese).

We can’t ask a cop a question (#RandyEvans).

We can’t cash our check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood).

We can’t take out our wallet (#AmadouDiallo).

We can’t run (#WalterScott).

We can’t breathe (#EricGarner).

We can’t live (#FreddieGray).

We’re tired.

Tired of making hashtags.

Tired of trying to convince you that our #BlackLivesMatter too.

Tired of dying.

Tired.

Tired.

Tired.

So very tired.

    I don’t know about you, but I think of how not understanding a person or a culture can ultimately lead to death. A man was born and destined for great things. He had great confidence and exhibited extraordinary love and forgiveness for his fellow man. He was a man who told great stories, displayed impeccable character, and shared pearls of wisdom for righteous living. Because people feared what they did not understand, and rejected what they knew to be true, he was killed. His name was Jesus! How would his Facebook page read?

We have people who don’t like the idea that He is preaching, teaching and healing (#idontlikeit)

We have people who could make money off of him, like 300 silver coins (#theultimatebetrayal)

We have people who called him many things, but yet we have come to arrest him (#JesusofNazareth)

We have people who would defend him (#thecuttingoftheear)

We have people who would take him to Caiaphas (#onemanmustdie)

We have one who claims he’ll be with him until the end (#thecockcrowsthreetimes) 

We have one who recognizes his failure (#thedenialofPeter)

We have a king who feared the crowd (#cowardlyPilate)

We have a crowd who wants the death of one man (#itisnotBarabbas)

We have a man flogged because we did not try to understand him (#beginningoftheend)

We have people who mocked a man with a crown of thorns, slapped his face, and divided his clothes (#maximumscoffers)

We have people who took great folly in offering a thirsty man sour wine instead of water (#crueltyofman)

We have people who inflicted physical pain with the piercing of the hands, feet, and side (#thecrucifixtion)

We have a mother’s anguish over the death of a son. (#butthereisjoytocome)

    On the day of Judgement, what explanation will be given for the innocent deaths of people of color? How well will the “stand your ground” law work in eternity? When you look into the eyes of Jesus knowing how He died at the hands of executioners, how will you justify reckless action and behavior? How will you explain that you love the Lord but hate the man who does not look like you,  knowing that he is a child of  God also?  How do you look at yourself in the mirror and defend your actions? How do you…?

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