I have never seen a "black" person nor have I met an "AFRICAN American." All those who are a dark shade of brown, and born in this country were never "African." They have always been "American."
I once asked a young lady who was, what we refer to as black, why she called herself African American and wanted to call her that too. My response to her was to ask her a series of questions.
It went sort of like this; Have you ever lived in Africa? Her answer was no. Have you ever cooked African food? Again her answer was no. Do you speak an African language? She said no. Do you dress like an African from Africa? Once again her answer was a resounding no. The next question was, were your parents from Africa, answer....no. After these questions, getting all no answers, I asked another question; "Which part of you is African?"
She laughed realizing how silly it sounded for her to feel a need to have two country associations, when one of the counties she chose, she had never lived in.
I have never referred to myself as "German, Norwegian American." I have never been to Germany, or Norway, even though my ancestors were from those places.
When I had been born and raised in the culture here in America, I operate as an American. I carved out a niche for myself based on my personality, talents and bents, not on which country someone else in my family came from.
We do have to profile sometimes helping others to find us when we are lost. If I became lost in the wilderness along some mountain road, I would want those looking for me to know my people group to be able to find me.
I am referred to in this country as "white." Even though I am not white at all, the pigment in my skin is a very light tan. They might have to say I am short, with white hair and even give my weight to allow people to know what to look for in the search. That weight thing is more of an embarrassment than anything else. I don't even mind being called "cracker" as long as they don't speak about my weight.
Does anyone get my point here? Being sensitive about our people group is unnecessary and even prideful. I don't care what people group anyone is from. I do however care about character. If anyone has good or bad character, then your shade of brown makes no difference to me, I will call you what you are, and I would expect you to tell the truth about me too.
I do not fear telling the truth about any human being, the purpose for the truth is to help bring us to the place of salvation in Christ that will lead to heaven.
Every person needs Christ no matter what their people group. All cultures on earth, as a whole, are headed for hell, no matter how much good they think they do in the world, they have not trusted Christ and are in need of repentance for salvation.
Perhaps our biggest worry is proudly holding our chins in the air proclaiming our people group as though we should be revered above all other people groups, instead we should be hanging our head in shame that we have offended a Holy God and need to admit that shame, desiring to be changed into a new creation by Christ.
Is it possible that all this mess about race, is a deterrent to the real issue and that is sin in our lives? If we spend all our time defending our people group, we have no time left over to reflect on our sin sick hearts. Everything can be the other guys fault, leaving us wallowing in self-pity over what we think we deserve on earth, instead of what we really deserve and that is hell.
IF everyone no matter what stripe they are, would reflect on their own character, filtering the facts about it, through the Word of God, we would eliminate all pride and self-righteousness, bending the knee to Christ to become a New Creation.
Perhaps in heaven there will only be two people groups.....Jew and Gentile! Just a thought!
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