Painting a Colored Picture

According to the WashingtonPost.com, the following apparently comes from Rev. Lowery's Inaugural Benediction for President Barack Hussein Obama.

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around...
(LAUGHTER)
... when yellow will be mellow...
(LAUGHTER)
LOWERY: ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.

1. black will not be asked to get in back
2. brown can stick around
3. yellow will be mellow
4. red man can get ahead
5. white will embrace what is right

As one who sometimes writes poetry, I realize within written lyrics there can be both a face value and deeper meaning behind the mindset of the author. I also understand that as a reader of such poetry, we can sometimes attribute meaning beyond that which the author originally intended.

With that said, I can’t help but wonder what exactly Rev. Lowery was trying to express with these words, and if they would have been equally accepted had they been spoken by the yellow, red, or white and changed ever so slightly.

I find it interesting that even in times of claims of calling America to unity, there yet remains a clear division of colors. For where we could suggest that America be a nation where no one is asked to get in back, where all can stick around, where each of us will be mellow, where each man can get ahead, and where we will individually embrace what is right…we would rather keep reminding each other to continue dividing ourselves into individual Crayola crayons.

We’re Painting a Colored Picture; we’re just on different sheets of paper.

The Color of Change

Today, Barack Hussein Obama II becomes the forty-fourth American President. One of the most often heard statements of this election has been and continues to be, ‘Barack Hussein Obama will be the first African American to be elected President of the United States.’ Indeed, today marks a historic point in American history.

My concern is that we as Americans are placing too much emphasis on color concerning the well-being of our country. Comments like, ‘This country has been run by Caucasian men for so long and look where its gotten us, now is the time for an African American President to bring great change to all Americans.’ If you are looking for this exact quote you won’t find it, but the premise behind it has spread all through the media and persons I’ve heard talk here and there.

The truth is, the color of Barack Hussein Obama’s skin (noting he is actually both black and white) does not ensure, in and of itself, that America will somehow miraculously rise to some new heights in morality, economics, etc. simply because he takes office. I pray that he will show integrity of character, make good decisions, and will ‘abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good,’ but pigment (the amount and type of melanin) alone will make President Barack Hussein Obama no better or worse than his predecessors.

As with Christianity, our talk is merely breath upon the breeze if done without action. It is our walk that actually produces a positive change; as it is written, ‘faith without works is dead… I will shew thee my faith by my works.’

The next four years will declare unto the American people the faith and character of President Barack Hussein Obama, just as our daily lives expose as much concerning ourselves to those around us.

Pray for America, pray for her President, and pray for her people.

Racism Comes In All Colors

Sadly, a recently married couple was ‘found gagged, tied and shot in the head on Oct. 15 in the living room of their home in Winchester.’ With most of the talk about marriage these days seemingly centered around the press of homosexuals desiring to redefine the Biblical definition of such, there is still the difference of opinion regarding interracial relationships. Such a topic arises when speaking of slain, Jan Pawek Pietrzak and Quiana Faye Jenkins-Pietrzak.

I find it most interesting that some of the reports would have us believe ‘the motive was financial in nature,’ but the idea of the couple being interracial, that apparently two of the four men served with Pietrzak as Marines, and both of the couple’s mothers seem to believe there is more to the story than simply robbery…hmm…Even BlackVoices seem to believe the couple being interracial had something to do with the murders. Just how many robberies end with the persons ‘tortured before they were shot execution-style’ and other disturbing reports?

Truth be told, if this had been four white men there is very little doubt in my mind that the racism card would have been played by the media. Such is why I found it odd that a good number of the initial reports seemed to suppress the race of the suspects (not the article I have posted here obviously). Although the majority of race crimes which seem to get headlines are those committed by white persons, to be honest, ‘Racism Comes In All Colors.’

Genesis 9:6Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Regardless of race and regardless of the reason, this couple was robbed of life and their families of their presence, by the sin of murder (and possibly more also).

A Topic of Race in the Church

“Perhaps the longest running conversation between Blacks and Whites in America is a conversation about race.”

[Article]

Racist Names In Science

I saw this information in a blog I visit and couldn’t help but share it.

“The International Space Nomenclature Council today adopted the term 'emplacements de hauts gravité super' - or 'super high gravity locations' - as the official replacement name for black holes.”

You ask, why the name change?

“Originally named in reference to the fact that light cannot escape their intense gravity, the term 'black hole' was increasingly criticized as being insensitive to African-Americans and African-Europeans.”

“"We're glad the council finally took action on this issue." said Isaiah Herman, Chairman of the National African-American Coalition of People. "The unimaginable destructive power of these super high gravity locations was giving the word 'black' a negative connotation throughout the universe."”

I doubt seriously that John Archibald Wheeler coined the term “black hole” with any racial meaning, so why must we today in 2007 still be looking for racial slang in what appears to be every tiny little thing?

It seems that some wish to spend their lifetime looking for racism in everything that exist while all the while crying we should put racism behind us.