I
have lived my entire life in tension between black and white Americans. I observed the 60’s race riots in Louisville
when I was in the 3rd grade, was bussed to an all black neighborhood
and school in the 6th grade, watched my dad kicked out of his
pastorate for bringing black children to VBS in the 8th grade, lived
in an all white county in high school, was severely beaten in a race riot in my
early twenties, received a Captain’s Accommodation at a Captain’s Mast in the
Navy for my role in quelling racial tensions and am the proudest grandfather of
a biracial granddaughter. I have been
truly innocent in willing harmony with all men and I have been truly guilty
with a heart filled with bigotry. Some
truths I have learned:
1)
I have known only one kind of true racial harmony. That was found in a church upheld by scripture
based on the foundation of Christ’s love for all men and led by a true man of
God.
2)
My season of racism was born and fostered by a massive arm of the state.
3)
America has an institutionalized, deeply powerful, ongoing role in oppressing
the black man.
4)
Racism is often a two way street, but should be viewed by the white man in
relation to my third truth.
5)
The issue of racial reconciliation can only be solved by my first truth.
Come
quickly Lord Jesus and make a GRAY table for our reconciliation.
 |
| The only true racial harmony I have ever known, VBS at my dad's church. He is knelling at far right, my mom on far left, I am in the middle, second row from the back underneath the second window. My parents were racial and social activists in the south and didn't even know it. They just loved Jesus and loved others. |
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