Early in my life, I was a car man.

As time went on and I was introduced to the comfort and benefits of owning a truck, I became a GMC truck man.

As much as I have become a truck man, I don’t resent anyone who desires cars or other makes of truck. In fact, my best friend is a Ford truck man. That doesn’t interfere with our relationship.

When we go into the hospital for a procedure, does the doctor pull out special books for a particular race?  When it comes to transplants, does gender come into play? No, because what we have on the inside is not limited to a particular race or culture.

So why are we still dealing with racism in our country today? I believe it’s because of fear and/or low to no self-esteem.

If we were to put a group of toddlers in a room, they would play together without fear.

It’s when we get some intelligence that we get so ignorantly hung up on the outer differences of skin pigmentation that we succumb to prejudice.

I’ve had Caucasians herald racial slurs at me because I’m black only to see them climb into “their black truck.”

I’ve had a conversation with African-Americans who don’t approve of whites only to see them get into “their white vehicles.”

I’m totally confused at this mindset.

How can black or white be your favorite colors only to dislike people described by these colors?

We like what we like.

We love who we love.

There are good and bad people in every race.

It’s truly unfair to group an entire race into one category simply because of the behavior of the minority.

To grow up to dislike or hate a person because of their complexion is a learned ignorant behavior.

When Hurricane Harvey made his presence felt, there was no preference or prejudice. He flooded whoever was in his path.

As people were coming in to assist with the evacuation, no one cared what your complexion was. If you needed help, they were there to help and the help was received gladly.

Your preference is your preference. Don’t allow preference to breed prejudice.

Racism won’t be cured overnight in our country. God looks at the heart of the individual man.

If we commit to addressing and deporting this mindset starting in our community, churches and local governments, I believe we can wipe racism out. But this means it starts with you and I.

In life, run the race, not racism.

 

Demetrius Moffett is Senior Pastor of Orange Church of God, 1911 North 16th Street in Orange.