Wake Up: Racism Is Still Prevalent In America

My heart really goes out to the families of the people slain by the late Wade Michael Page, a white supremacist. I started to think about this very hard and came to the realization that racism is still prevalent in America. Racism is a belief held by an individual or group hating another individual or group based on color, religion, creed, age, appearance, or background. I hate to say this but I need to say this. Racism is still prevalent in America today. Just a couple of weeks ago, a black couple's wedding had to be held at another church because the predominantly white church were mortified to have another race on it's premises. During my days of living in North Carolina, I remember going to a school in Princeton where the staff including teachers and principals were racists. I remember people of my own race shared racist comments about Caucasians and Mexicans (oh yeah, African American can be just as racist as the most hateful KKK member). Shoot, I've made various racist comments in my time in the Army and thereafter ("I ain't lying, I ain't lying"-Madea voice). Racism has been here since the beginning of time and the beginning of the U.S.A. Over years, we've experienced slavery, Jim Crow laws, laws against the Native Americans, American concentration camps of the Asian population during World War II, and of course the civil rights movement. In the late 20th century to this present time, it "seems" racism is nonexistent. Various people from all walks of life are working together in the workplace, studying in the universities, playing in professional sports, and chat with each other on social networking sites. We think that it's all good and we've learned from the late Rodney King, "to all get along." However, this recent shooting should raise a red flag for us today. Has racism really gone away? I say that it hasn't. Yeah, some of you may say, Dave, you're entitled to your own opinion. But here are the facts I see in everyday life. Matter of fact, let me pose some questions to you and then let them marinate in your conscience for a while:

• Why are there still white supremacist groups still hateful against other races?
• Why are there still "black power" movements still taking aim at the white man for what happened to their ancestors centuries ago?
• Why are black people still thinking all white people are "the man" and blame them for all that's wrong in their lives?
• Why do Americas look at all Mexican workers as robbers of jobs in the marketplace?
• Why are churches who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and God still separated based on race, color, creeds, worship styles, and background?
• Why are there stigmata between the various groups of the Latino culture such as dialects, country, etc.?
• Why do us"native" (anyone born in the US) Americans hate on other races/cultures coming here to the US to attain a better life?
• Why are there many cities across the US still "silently" promoting divisions for different races to live?
• Why is there a prevalence of injustice toward Native Americans?
• Why are people still systematically teaching racism to the up and coming generations?

Why, Oh why, my friends? What happened to the community in Wisconsin should be a reminder and wake up call that racism is still prevalent in America. People are going to various extremes like mass-murder, monetary corruption, gang activity, political corruption, and fanatical religious crusades to destroy another who they deem as impure. This is what happens when our hearts aren't congruent with the heart of God. God loves all people. He doesn't like our sin (as many try to justify) but loves us all the same. When He came and died, He did it for all mankind. The great write Paul said in his testimony to the Greek philosophers in Athens that God made us from one blood all nations of the earth (Acts 17:26). Because of sin and just human nature (as Michael Jackson perfect examined), we hate each other. My thing is, everyone from the atheist to the Buddhist envision a life after this, some sort of heavenly place. No more crying, no more sickness, and for us who hate working everyday, no more bills ( smile). But we're still on this racism tip, which is mostly now undercover (hello). This is a point I must get across to  us all. Who do you think is going to be in heaven? Is it going to be God, the angels, and one particular number or race? I think not. John who had a vision in the isle of Patmos had a vision of heaven and the constituents living there. He saw God, the angels, and an innumerable amount of people of all nations, kindred, and languages there whose lives were washed in the blood of Lamb (Revelation 7:9). They all were seen worshipping the King together in harmony and in unity. Racism isn't a thought of love or maybe constructive criticism, it's a thought of hate, separation, and evil. Believe you me, God ain't down with it. My friends, I'm just as guilty of racism as Wade Michael Page because I've done some racist stuff in my 31 years on earth. But thank God for massaging my heart and to raise awareness of racism in the US. 

Til next time, dgwo.

References:

Acts 17:22-33

Revelation 7:1-9