White Supremacy or God’s Equality?

Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “Judge not by the color of the skin but by the character of the heart.” This has application to the white supremacy mentality because skin color is the dominate issue. Ryan Bomberger, who is bi-racial and co-founder of the Radiance Foundation, sums it up: “We live in a culture where we are told that our skin color confers upon us status that is fixed…They want us to see everything through the broken lens of ‘race’ – a human construct that has only served to dehumanize us throughout history.”
White supremacy is the belief that white people constitute a superior race and should therefore dominate society.

In the past there has been much racial injustice and inequality. Slavery was wrong, period! The issues leading to the Civil Rights Movement needed to be addressed, and they were, by Dr. King. However, great steps have been taken to counteract mistakes and the mentality of the past. Writer Rick Hayes says, “America has matured and grown and now is by far the most diverse and fair country on the planet.”

We now have Affirmative Action which is the practice or policy of favoring individuals belonging to groups known to have been discriminated against previously. (I would like to believe, though, that a non-white person is hired for a job based upon their qualifications, not on their race.)
Yet, with all the progress that has been made, racism still exists. It is wrong for a white person to think that he or she is superior. It is equally wrong for a non-white person to assume that a white person thinks that way.

Success is determined by how one thinks, not by skin color. Many non-whites have risen to great heights through sheer determination, not allowing their race to hold them back. Jerome Edmondson is one example. He writes, “I rejected poverty, hardship, low expectations – the curse of generations – and I chose to reach for something better…So, start on your path to success by determining to dream big and by daring to reach for the stars.” Jerome was the first minority Denny’s franchise graduate and the first black A & W franchise owner.
Another great example is sports. Many non-white athletes (especially blacks) have become superior because of their athletic ability. Black athletes have greatly contributed to the success of basketball and football teams.

From a Christian and biblical perspective all races are equal. Each person is created in God’s image and with unique design. Psalm 139:13-14 tell us,

“God formed our inward parts; He wove us in our mother’s womb. I will give thanks to God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

As sinful people created with a free will, everyone has fallen far short of God’s righteousness. White supremacy mentality is not a skin problem; it is a reflection of a sinful nature. The good news is that each person of every color has an equal opportunity to call upon God’s grace. Question: Do you know someone of a different color to whom you can show love and grace today?