Over the last few weeks, I have been feeling this pull, push, nudge to start writing about race–as in skin color. I have avoided this topic entirely on Modern Reject, except for one small mention here and there.
Since I’m no wallflower and I also don’t stray away from a bit of controversy, I haven’t been able to figure out why I absolutely don’t want to write about race.
My husband asked me point blank the other day: “Why don’t you want to write about being black?” My answer was surprising.
The fact is, I used to talk about my race frequently. The sad truth is that talking about my race was, for a time, all consuming.
Upon entering college, although I had become a Christian, I was still seeking my identity. Attending college in Boston, ripe with college students, intellectuals, and liberals, I was flooded with the idea that my race was a crucial component to finding my identity–if not the component.
Forget being a Christian–a follower of Christ–what really mattered was my skin color. I debated racial issues with all of my other bi-racial friends. I read anthologies on race relations in America and classics on race, like The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
Even though no one was the same “mix” as me–black and white–in this circle of other bi-racial and multiracial people, I felt like I belonged. It was the fact that we were not just white that connected us. Other people couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to have brown skin. We were different.
During this time, I battled all of my preconceived notions regarding race–every stereotype I had been taught, every discrimination I had experienced, every label I had worn. I thought often of the girl in high school who was the leader of “the black girls’ table”. She called me over to their table in the cafeteria one day and asked me why I didn’t only date black guys.
I was stunned and angry. “You are black, aren’t you?” She asked, knowing good and well the answer. “I’m mixed,” I responded. She then instructed me to not date “white guys.” Thing is, she was mixed, just like me.
You see, in the black community, I’m black, not mixed. That is, until someone wants to comment on how light my skin color is or how “white” my hair appears. I’m black when it’s convenient.
To whites, on the other hand, I’m like some kind of exotic creature–a half-breed–a rare species. They want to examine me, ask me endless questions about how I feel about being bi-racial, and place me under a microscope to study me.
But, both blacks and whites would lovingly refer to me as an “Oreo”, a label I once wore with pride, but now makes me cringe.
So, as I began to answer my husband’s question of why I didn’t want to discuss my race, I realized it is because, in light of Christ, it no longer matters.
For so long I searched for identity between two worlds and two cultures–pulled between my black father and my white mother–always feeling like somewhat of an orphan.
I don’t like to bring up my bi-racial background, not because I’m angry or jaded with either side of my family, but because I rarely (if ever) think of myself in those terms.
The belonging I desired for so long was discovered not in a particular group, class, or race of people, but rather in the person of Jesus Christ.
I am no longer orphaned. I have been adopted. I belong to Him.
What cultural, racial, socioeconomic, family practices or traditions have made you feel excluded? Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? How and why?
Since “the race can” has been opened here on Modern reject, so to speak, I will be doing a few follow-up posts on church diversity. Stay tuned…post image here
This is really good, Nicole.
I love this: “I am no longer orphaned. I have been adopted. I belong to Him.”
I have biracial friends and family, and those who are closest to Jesus would echo your thoughts exactly.
Thank you Karen. That means a lot.
I don’t really have any bi-racial Christian friends, but I can only guess that, yes, as we move closer to Christ–all else fades, even the color of our skin.
No pressure, but you could start here, with one of my fave blogs ever: http://www.gombojavfamily.blogspot.com The author is biracial, and she married a guy born in Mongolia. :) Her name is Daja and she’s an amazing woman. :)
Aw! I just read this post and ready to comment and I see that you mentioned me, Karen! I love you! How do you know me so well and we’ve never met face-to-face?!
Yes, I am multi-racial and I really like this post! My Daddy is black (but a mix himself as his grandmother was Cherokee). My Mommy is Spanish and some other European white. My husband is Mongolian. So our house is VERY multi-cultural. You’ll be as likely to eat Mongolian dumplings or greens and black-eye peas or enchiladas. You might hear Mongolian throat singing, old school Gospel or salsa music.
But, in the end, we teach our children that their identity is IN CHRIST. That is what matters the most.
Nicole, I loved this piece. My sister was often called the “oreo” as well, but I think because she does identify as black, (as instructed in her adult life, I think) although she was raised in an all white family, all white neighborhood. Hence, she sees herself as black (light brown) on the outside, but white on the inside, in terms of her cultural upbringing. I can’t speak to the race issue, since her identity is ultimately her perspective on the whole issue, and deeply personal. But, from my perspective I definitely don’t think of her as my black sister. Nor my white sister, nor even my brown sister, for that matter. She’s my sister. And some things we share, and we cherish, and sometimes we get in each other’s hair. Sounds like ‘real sisters’ to me! :-)
Thank you for writing this. As a mother of a multiracial son, it means a lot. He is who he is in Christ first. Thank you.
Johanna,
I’m so glad it was encouraging. Blessings.
Interesting perspective – thank you for your openness (as always).
Quick question – do you feel culturally black? Not knowing much about your story, it didn’t even occur to me until you wrote this post that you were anything other than Euro-American (or cracker, if you don’t wanna get PC).
I ask because I know that for many black persons, getting an education can feel like buying into the white establishment (and to be fair, our schools are set up on a European model of education with all the Euro-centric assumptions that go along with it).
I have noted what you point out – that the categories ‘black’ and ‘white’ are much more fluid if a person is mixed-race (e.g., the jokes about whether Tiger Woods counts as Asian or Black. The ‘one drop’ rule in the Jim Crow days.)
If you haven’t read “Black Skin, White Masks” by Franz Fanon, I’d be interested in your take on it. He pretty handily deconstructs race as a system of control and categorization; I hear echoes of his thoughts in your post.
This is one area where the Church has a great chance to stand up and claim all races, cultures and ethnicities for our own (Galatians 3:28, Revelation 21-22 and all that).
Can’t wait to see where this discussion goes.
JR.,
As usual you have asked some great questions. I have to be away from my computer for the next little bit, but I will be back shortly to respond. I’m looking forward to this discussion, as well.
JR.,
Thanks for waiting for my response.
Firstly, I had to laugh because usually white people or non-blacks assume I am white or some tropical/exotic mix.
Black people, on the other hand, can almost always identify me as part black. They recognize the facial characteristics.
To answer your first question: No, I do not feel culturally black. However, I also do not feel culturally white.
I was raised by my white family, but still maintain ties to my black family.
When I think of myself in terms of race, I honestly feel “mixed.” I feel pulled in both directions.
As far as education goes, I think being raised in a white suburb had more influence than school per se. I had many, many bi-racial and multi-racial friends in high school, which helped tremendously.
My college was also extremely progressive and liberal and so again, I did not feel that the European model of education was force-fed to me.
The choice of words, “race being fluid” I would challenge simply because within the black community there is a spectrum of blackness, but it is based on skin lightness or darkness, as determined by the community as a whole.
For example, Alicia Keys and Halle Berry are both mulatto like myself, but because they look more “black” they are called “black” by the community.
There is, unfortunately, ongoing prejudice within the black community based on one’s skin color. It is rather ironic and tragic.
I’m familiar with “Black Skin, White Masks” but to be honest, I have, at least for the time being, given up reading about racial issues. Although it does sound interesting to me.
I agree, of course, that the church has a huge opportunity in the area of diversity. We are currently failing in America to share this message. However, I know that the topic of diversity within the church is a hot button issue right now and I am excited to see how the church responds.
Thank you again JR. for your thoughtful questions and insight.
My brother is black. Like black, black. My sister is Halle Berry brown. I am pretty fair. However, black people recognize that I’m black or “mixed.” White people are often shocked when they realize that I’m black.
So funny, isn’t it?
This part bothers me: “He pretty handily deconstructs race as a system of control and categorization.” I think race and culture and ethnicity is a GIFT FROM GOD. I think it does a disservice to all ethnic groups to say that it’s just a “system of control” and furthermore, that statement destroys the beauty and complexity of our God’s creation.
The more I study people groups and languages and different cultures, the more I am convinced that God has given EACH different ethnic group something unique and powerful and important which it needs to give to the world, something that we all really need to learn. In that sense, I am so, so, so pro-diversity. We need each other. It bums me out that the entire planet is becoming so American-ized, and that we’re exporting our “culture” and that, worldwide, people are eating it up and dying from it.
Similarly, the Body of Christ suffers when we are all simply identical copies of each other.
If you just trash the whole idea of race simply because it has been wrongly USED as a means of categorization, that’s tragic. In many senses, we’re NOT all the same inside, but neither should we be!! God made each person unique, and he made each people group unique, and He made each race unique, and that is evidence of how creative He is… and, really, how much He loves to be sought out. It’s like a seek-and-find game, but with worldwide repercussions — He has put a unique bit of His fingerprints on each group, and together, we get a better picture of who He is, and together, we become more and better than we ever could, alone.
P.S. Just to clarify, I’m not saying that each cultural group should stay separate. By no means! I think one of America’s strengths is that it is a literal melting pot of cultures and races and we’re the better for that. But, it makes me sad that in the quest to correct the destruction done by racism, the pendulum has swung so far the other way that many people now say that culture, race, and ethnicity no longer matters, and that’s the part I don’t agree with.
Karen,
Thanks for your thoughts!
I in no way meant to communicate that I don’t value ethnicity and culture. However, you would do well to read Fanon’s book. “Race” is a category distinct from either of those. Race is something humans created to explain the Other.
Think of it this way: there was no such thing as a White person until various European cultures got to Africa. Suddenly, the various ethnicities and cultures in Europe looked MUCH more similar than they ever had before. Gauls and Saxons and Italians all suddenly thought, Hey, we’re all a lot more like each other (ethnically and culturally) than we are like THEM. So the categories White and Black were used (and paired with Civilized and Uncivilized, Christian and Heathen, and more).
Race is ultimately a tool of the Empire, unlike ethnicity and culture. Race ought to be deconstructed so that its false claims to identify us can be exposed as lie.
Persons whose skin happens to be darker than mine don’t necessarily have anything in common just because of their skin color, any more than all blonds do. (I’m a brunette).
I hope that helps to clarify my statement.
Great Piece Nicole! As I always say, we are all Children of God and nothing else matters!
Thanks Jimmie. Amen!
I appreciate your openness and candor, Nicole. Jesus has totally obliterated the barriers between people!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Kerry. I am looking forward to seeing the church embrace our oneness in Christ more and more.
Nicole, Brilliantly spoken. I am bi-racial aswell. Puerto rician and Syrian. I was always trying to find a group to belong to. But the group I already fit in was God’s group. The one with all different backgrounds and colors. Having Mixed kids of my own, I Do my best to teach them to see people like Jesus does. Beyond the Color. Thanks for writing this piece.
Melanie,
Amen! It is so encouraging to know that other multi-racial people within the church are not consumed with race, but Christ and Him alone.
May the Lord bless you as you direct your children to their identity in Christ.
This is such an amazing story. Thanks for being so open Nicole…it definitely opened my eyes :)
Thanks Nicole. You are so sweet. I’m glad it was eye-opening for you. xo
So, as I began to answer my husband’s question of why I didn’t want to discuss my race, I realized it is because, in light of Christ, it no longer matters.
How I wish more people of every race within the church shared that same attitude.
William,
You and I both friend…you and I both.
I do see some positive changes in the right direction, but the church will need many voices, leaders, and prayer to ever fully see that vision embraced.
Thank you for commenting.
I love that you wrote about this topic, and I love what you said. All around me I see people grouping themselves into categories in a search to fit in. You have reminded me that there is only one place where we can ALL go and be loved and accepted. Thank you!
Exactly! There is one place and One Person.
Great piece Nicole!
Hm…I had to think about this. I’ve recently discovered that the people who raised me are most likely not my biological parents, but they will never admit it. I am estranged from them for several reasons. Even growing up they would make comments about how I “must have hatched from an egg” or “We found you on the lawn, left by aliens.” But as I got older and more and more people pointed out that my brother and I looked nothing alike, and I didn’t resemble my father in the slightest…it all started to click.
Growing up I really did feel like the cuckoo in the nest. When my brother died, I felt like the one person who kind of understood me was gone. But as my husband has pointed out, “You have a family. The kids and I are your family.” And he’s right. I may not know who my parents are, but I know who I am and I’ve made a wondeful family here on earth.
Great piece, Nicole!
Thanks Bianca. That means a lot coming from you.
Great post! I’ve always thought that focusing on race actually went against the struggle for “equality”. I find it hard to unite when we are so focused on how we are different. I also encourage younger people to start dropping the labels and stop trying to identify themselves and find their identity in Christ alone. I have found it hard to deliver this message sometimes though, because I am white (something I used to be ashamed of). It’s so great to hear your perspective and your struggle and how you came to see yourself as Christ’s. There are so many things we are born into that we can’t control, but we can accept Christ’s love and show it to others.
I really enjoyed this blog and am enjoying catching up on some of your older posts.
Thanks!
Carla,
It seems that focusing on race is almost required in the struggle for equality. Which ironically, seems to undermine the very struggle itself. I am glad to know that you shre the message of oneness in Christ. Keep doing so–being white or not has nothing to do with it–being a follower of Christ does.
I’ve never thought of you as either black or white. Only as Nicole. Seems like you did a good job of discovering your identity in Christ. You are so right, in light of our identity in Him, there is no other measurement of worth, class, race, or substance. All you are, Nicole, is founded in Christ.
Good post!
Ben,
Thank you for this comment. I’m glad I appear to have discovered my identity in Christ because sometimes it doesn’t feel that way (maybe only on bad mom days). Founded in Christ--I love that!
I’m from the deep South & basically … I was taught a certain modern form of racism as I grew up. Blacks were tolerable on good days, but could be blamed and scapegoated when the crap hit the fan. Mixed race? That crap didn’t go down where we were from.
Then something happened.
I was burned in a gasoline explosion when I was 12 over 40% of my body. After fighting for my life and surviving the accident, I was left with the complete right side of my face scared. It’s not very noticeable today, but it was in middle school.
You learn a lot about the phrase “skin deep” all-of-a-sudden when there’s this kind of sudden change in your life.
Literally … I lost friends, was made fun, and at times physically abused simply because of what I looked like.
I moved in high school, grew up, and the scars are not very noticeable anymore.
Two of the lessons I learned from that were:
1. People are people.
2. You have to get comfortable with who you are and where you’ve been before you can move on and go where you’re going.
Thanks for sharing. I love how vulnerable you are as you share your life with us. It’s a good story. Keep telling it.
Kevin,
What a powerful story. I cannot imagine the suffering, both physical and emotionally. It is sad to know that very often people judge so quickly by the outside and nothing more.
I so agree that a person needs to be comfortable with themselves–confident in who they are and even who they aren’t–in order to be freed from that kind of destructive thinking from others.
I want to thank you for sharing and being so honest. I was moved and challenged by your story.
this was so well-written, Nicole. hearing your history and struggles as well as where you are now in your journey was so insightful. thank you for being so candid and honest. I love what you said at the end: “The belonging I desired for so long was discovered not in a particular group, class, or race of people, but rather in the person of Jesus Christ.” the same should be true of all of us, myself included… so powerful.
Alece,
Thank you for the kind words. I so long for a time when we really will all be connected by Jesus Christ and divided by nothing less than Him. Thank you for commenting here. It means a lot.
Nicole, that’s just an incredible and brave post. I’ve often wondered, quietly to myself if race has become the all-consuming identity for many people. I wonder about this quietly to myself, because I’m a white guy, and white isn’t a “race,” and I’m not allowed to say such things. :)
Matt,
Thank you for the encouragement. You are so right in wondering those things, because I know for many that their race is their identity. The fact that you feel that you can’t express this idea because you happen to be white, is telling and underscores this very idea. When race is one’s identity, especially in the black community, no one else can comment.
Your comment is very insightful. Thanks for sharing it here.
Something I thought I would share. I’m white and grew up in a small southern, rural town with a lot of “natural” segregation – that is, people of different races tended to live in specific areas of the county. So I had very, very few black friends.
My grandparents on both sides were both racist to a degree – they didn’t value non-whites as much as whites. My parents did a good job of making me aware that race shouldn’t be an issue – that we’re all one family in God.
So, eventually I had my first black friend when I was a sophmore in High School and we’re still friends now.
BUT here’s the funny thing. I realize I’m actually racist.
You know why? Because I still clump people together in groups. White friends, black friends, asian friends, etc.
I’m so aware of race and not wanting to offend or somehow prejudice my non-white friends that I make distinctions between them.
For example, I once played a regular weekly basketball game with black friends. They started talking about being called “African-American” and it was offensive. Well, as a white guy, I had been taught that was the respectful term to use. So I was a little off guard. So I asked them was it better to say [of them] blacks, or african-american. Like if I said I play ball with black guys. They kind of looked at me funny and asked why it made a difference. At first I didn’t understand but since then I have begun to understand.
They’re not just my friends, they’re my black friends.
Ultimately all this stems from trying NOT to be racist and being keenly aware of the race issue, I end up actually being racist. Isn’t that crazy?
We’ve made race such a big issue, that we haven’t overcome it, we’ve just changed it in a lot of ways.
This is so powerful because it is so true. I think most people, if they were being truly honest, would have to admit that they compartmentalize people into racial categories.
The thing that really bugs me though, is that blacks very often do the same thing, especially in regards to white people. But no way are they called racist. They are just minorities.
The double-standards regarding race relations are perhaps the thing I find the most frustrating and harmful.
My mother, a white woman of Norwegian descent, is the most color blind person I have ever known. More so than myself even. It does not exist. I catch myself ding the exact thing you described. Not to shrink responsibility, but I do think our culture helps perpetuate this kind of thinking to some extent.
At any rate, thanks for the great comment!
I wholeheartedly agree with your statement that “The double-standards regarding race relations are perhaps the thing I find the most frustrating and harmful.”
I was raised in a community of 60% hispanic, 20% asian, 15% black, 4% the rest and 5 white people (in my high school). People have said, to my face, “I hate white people.” Then realizing that I am white, they would add, “Except for you.” If I said to them, “I hate hispanic people” they would be appalled, yet I had to take it because I was the minority there.
I have had to call out many black people for saying EXTREMELY racist things on their Facebook posts. When I have pointed out that their comments were offensive to me, I got no apology because they coudln’t possibly be racist and I don’t know anything about being a minority. Really?
When I lived in the Boston area, I lived in Dorchester, MA for a short time because my roommates and I were forced out of our home because we were white and everyone around us were Puerto Rican. Our place was vandalized (grafitti and rocks through our windows). Originally I laughed it off blaming it on kids, but when they started throwing rocks at me, I went to my roommates and said, “Let’s go.” I was the hold out because I was so used to being the minority.
Other races try to blame whites for being racist (and some are) but they tend to segregate themselves into groups. I used to sit at a table at work with almost all blacks. They would start talking about a certain issue that facsinated me so I would ask questions. Their response “You wouldn’t understand.” Here i was trying to understand what they believed to educate myself and here they were denying me because of my race. Sad really.
I admire you stepping out and stating what God wants us to know: that we are all His children! No need to find division because He loves us all!
Fascinating post, Nicole.
…a ton of things to chew over here.
I’m interested in the different approaches to race and identity in the US where you are, and in the UK where I am.
My impression is that it’s more of a deal over there than here, particularly in the bigger cities like London where mixed marriages – like mine – are wholly commonplace and not at al unusual.
Also many of us are not just multi-ethnic, we are poly-ethnic, and culturally fluid.
Here’s a couple of thoughts to add to the mix:
http://www.johnnylaird.net/2009/05/diversity-grace-wisdom/
http://www.johnnylaird.net/2008/05/identity/
Loved the blog, btw. Really good stuff.
Grace & peace
J
Nicole,
You ended this article with:
“I am no longer orphaned. I have been adopted. I belong to Him.”
My goodness. You GET it, don’t you? You understand it, don’t you? You do. You. Do.
I’m so glad I stopped by again and took the time to read your stuff. We have much in common, to be sure, especially since you said what you said here.
Respect,
Donald in Bethel, CT
(The link to my name on this comment is to my Fatherhood of God blog. I also do Project: Mathetes)
I am raising a bi racial daughter who I hope will have a better time than I with the whole race thing.
I know now it is a God given mantle I wear of cross culturalness that the devil really tried to come against in my youth. It just drove me away from my culture and race into the sea of humanity.
Things are coming full circle as spiritually I mature into what I was created to do disseminate the Word with a fierceness previously unheard of.
I am not surprised but still it’s a little shocking.
I just found your blog via A Place For Us, and I am so glad I did! As a mother of 3 bi-racial children, this post brought me to tears. It is my deepest desire that they find their identity and acceptance in Christ as you have. I am so glad to hear your encouraging story. Thanks!
Connie,
I’m blessed to know you were in any way encouraged by my story. May your children find their true identity in the One who is writing their story.
Blessings to you and thank you for commenting.
I get what you’re saying.
I think you are brave to be this honest!
Race is an issue I delved into deeply during my college years and soon after because it was during those years that people started to question what I am and where I’m from etc. I know exactly what it feels like to be cross-examined like you’re in a court room and the “jury” is trying to decide why you look the way you do.
It’s funny the different reactions I get…to some more culturally aware White people, I’m “mixed” or “exotic” but to the ones who don’t have friends outside of their own race, I’m Black, qed (end of proof)/no argument there)…there’s been Latino brothers who talk to me in Spanish because they think I’m Latina, there’s been Latina women who accept me as one of their own but there’s also been ones that hate on me and are quick to put me in my place if I get too accepted into their world…there’s East Indian women who think I’m from India–like the time a year or two ago when this Indian lady at my church stood with me in the lobby and argued with me about my heritage “Are you Indian?” she asked me “No,” I replied to which she quickly said, “Are you sure? You LOOK INDIAN!” And then they go into the hair thing they ALL go into the hair thing even up until this present day and time. I hear everything from a variety of people–they don’t believe my mom is my mom, they wonder where I get my hair from, they think I’m mixed with Spanish or White, they think my hair is a wig, they think my hair is tracks, they think my hair has been chemically altered AND this is only when I’m wearing my hair straight and flowing! My hair is natural curly so when I wash and wear people are in awe because they love my curls but as the day goes on and my hair loses the moisture, it starts to become bigger and before you know it, I’m rocking a mean bella afro like a 70’s Angela Davis (I think she was beautiful in her day, a foxy mama so I guess I should take it as a compliment)….but anyway! I say all of this because I know what it’s like to be called “exotic” and “examined” by different people as if you’re such a novelty and they don’t get you and they question what you are to the point when you become tired of explaining or get to the point where you don’t even want to mention the word “race”, much less talk about it. So I hear you girl! And I hope I can take this advice that I’m giving to you to heart for myself and that advice is “Don’t worry about what people say! You know who and what you are and that’s ALL that matters! That and the fact that God loves you and created you EXACTLY how He wanted you to be.”
Nicole !!! thanks so much for being so frank. I think some people need to hear the truth, Bi racial 3/4 mix of what 1/4 mix of whatever races are always stuck in some box. I will say something that I doubt most people will know, it’s gonna be raw people so prepare yourself. Race (as we know today) was actually defined about 350- 400 years ago, when ironically colonisation and mass slaughtering’s started to occur. People before then were not I repeat NOT defined by skin tone/shade. This is a recent thing people were defined more by allegiances.
In the modern age because DUMB yes I said it dumb people get hung up about skin colour. It has been used to define the have and have nots i.e Northern and southern hemisphere ( general shift ) this so called way of thinking has caused millions upon millions of deaths that could have been prevented if people where NOT so racist.
I find it so dumb when people put people in boxes, as for why don’t you just date white/black / green / pink guys honestly I am going to be blunt here they are UGLY and UNintelligent guys in every race. Warning to people that are interracial dating/marrying because it is cool. IT ISN’T when the other person figures out your agenda they will hate you more than you know. I have had people tell me that someone dated them because they thought dating an Asian would be cool !!! I actually cried that day. I have seen many mixed children and you sometimes get one parent that seems to bring the child up as if they are not mixed and just teach them their culture and refuse to allow them to experience the rest of their biological construction. YOU WILL DAMAGE you children I have seen it a lot so many hateful kids that have been rejected by one parent.
A positive note, one thing I LOVE about Christianity is that it is inclusive no one is in the brown or black or whatever box. God has created all people, I find all different races very beautiful its different features along with a kind heart make a person attractive GUESS WHAT PEOPLE !!! that’s what God sees
Thank you for writing this, It is really appreciated. It helped my write with a I am about to write. I rarely talk about it because well, it is something I keep down inside.
Till this day I am referred to as the “white” black girl. I don’t know how I can really put this into words but I will try. I really just want to be accepted for who I am not labeled.
In middle school the time of trouble and turmoil, I did my best to be accepted by the black girls at the school, but instead I was made fun of, picked on because I was different from the others. I didn’t speak the same way. The friends I did have were white and Hispanic and Asian.
I did not feel all that great about being shunned from my own culture. I felt more excepted by the friends I did have. I was comfortable and happy. I would go home though and my parents would say things like, “Where are your black friends? Why don’t you have black friends?” At the time I was not accepted. Nowadays I don’t even try because of my past.
So times goes on right? I have friends from all nationalities, and accepted by many, but I am referred to as the white black person. It came to a point where I was like you know what I am Jaque. I am who I am. I am a black person and that comes with a story. So does being any other nationality.
When I found Christ, I became the Christian, I became a daughter of Christ, I became a friend of Jesus. I was accepted for who I was, and always will be. Yes if I sit down and make a list of things that I do, and look at the amount of black friends that I have, and my parents come to me and ask me all these questions I may just go crazy. I remember though the way My Lord sees me and how much he loves me. He doesn’t say, “Oh how I love my black child, my white daughter you have done well, my Asian daughter you have made me proud! he says, ” My child, my daughter, my friend.”
“We are a human community, we have all struggled, we have all been bound, been rejected, been tattered and torn. It was Jesus blood who freed us from ultimate slavery of our own sin. We are not a human race, we are a human community. These labels don’t belong in the kingdom, so why have them now? Appearance means nothing, love means everything. We all received a new name when we accepted Jesus in our lives, became apart of new creed as we entered into the culture of Jesus. “-Writerscomposition