The world is not black and white. It never has been just black and white. The world is filled with a multitude of vibrant colors. There is color and beauty in all things God created and the human race is no exception. We come in many colors, shapes, sizes. Like all species we all look the same as far as our basic design. What sets us apart from one another is our unique features such as the color of our skin, eyes, and hair. We can not pick and chose what color our hair, eyes, and skin will be. That is all determined by our genetics. We all are born free, and equal. We all have the same basic human rights. We all have our own hopes, dreams and plans for the future. We all have the right to be who we want to be and to live our lives as we see fit. However, some people have decided they are somehow superior and more entitled than others.
These twisted individuals have used their self serving and superior attitude to trample on the basic rights of anybody they feel are somehow less of a human being than themselves. These so called superior humans have enslaved, mistreated, beaten, and killed others for no other reason than it gives them a sense of power and domination. Humans are the only species on the planet that torture, and kill for their own pleasure. No human being is superior to another. No human being has the right or authority to deny another human being the same rights, opportunities,and freedoms they fight to the death to protect. All Human beings have the God given right to live their lives freely and without oppression or domination. The only ones who would disagree are the ones who are guilty of this inhuman behavior!
Where does this superior ideology come from? It is hard to say for sure but if you look back though history you will see a this belief was adopted and further cultivated under the guise of religion. These people claimed God gave them the right to control and dominate anybody who was apposed their ideology. In fact more people have been killed, tortured and oppressed in the name of religion than for any other reason!
As Humans our sense of self worth, well being, values, and principles is learned at home. Children are heavily influenced by their parents personal thoughts and beliefs. Parents use what the teaching of their faith and their personal experiences as a guide book for instilling
what values, principles, and expectations they want their children to live by.
It is within the family unit and its outside influences where children are first exposed to Racism, sexism, homophobia, and other prejudices. A child has to be exposed to and then taught these ideologies in order for them to take root. A child is able to see and recognize that someone has a different skin tone than theirs. However, unless they have been told or taught differently a child will not see that person in a negative light.
That's right folks if you have a prejudice towards someone or something so will your children. They rely on you for their protection, safety, and well being and they will react to the things they encounter with the same response that you do, or taught them to do. That is truth!
I was five years old before I ever saw a person that had a different skin tone than mine. I never gave much thought because I just assumed he had been tanning all summer like my mom. If memory serves me correctly the man's name was Jim. I was instantly intrigued by him because he really tall!
Jim was a coworker and friend my mother had invited over for a BBQ. I remember following mom into the house and pulling on the back of her shirt to get her attention. When she turned around and ask me what I wanted I smiled my biggest smile and asked her, "Mamma, don't you wish you had a tan just like his?" She laughed and went to say something but I was out the door and gone before she could reply.
It was Jim who told me he was black. He explained that the pigment in his skin was just much darker than mine and that he had not been tanning all summer. Nothing more was said about it and we all spent the rest of the day eating, playing, and having a great time!
My little heart shattered when my mother told me some folks in town were mean and cruel to Jim because his skin color was dark. I remember her kneeling down to my level so that she could look into my eyes. That's what she did when she wanted my full attention. I can see what I said upset you," she said. "You are right to feel that way. Jim is a great man and for others to treat him badly because he looks different is wrong, so don't you ever do that to anybody. I want you to always treat everybody no matter who they are with the same kindness and respect that you want them to show you!" I have never forgotten that day, and I took her words to heart!
What this world needs is more love, tolerance, and acceptance of others.
Comments