A "New" Identity

For quite some time I have been trying to say to my fellow African-American brothers and sisters that if you want to get over the past injustices suffered, we have to stop identifying ourselves by the very thing that separates us from everybody else; our racial identity. It would appear, at least in the eyes of one gentleman, that the election of Barack Obama, as the 44th President of the United States, has began to open his eyes.

WASHINGTON – Shortly after leaving the voting booth, 70-year-old community activist Donald E. Robinson had a thought: "Why do I have to be listed as African-American? Why can't I just be American?"The answer used to be simple: because a race-obsessed society made the decision for him. But after Barack Obama's mind-bending presidential victory, there are rumblings of change in the nature of black identity ... Before Tuesday, black identity and community were largely rooted in the shared experience of the struggle — real or perceived — against a hostile white majority. (AP)

I would like to tell Mr. Robinson that nothing was preventing him from calling himself an American, but himself. Yes, even on EEOC forms you have the option either to not select the African-American box, or not give an answer at all. The "hyphenated" American syndrome that has arisen in response to pasts injustices, real or perceived, has done more to separate this country than unite it. It would seem that every ethnic group has some sort of identity they cling to in order to advance the causes of that particular group. Many people are hoping that this election cycle has once and for all put an end to the, apparent, racial divide still existing in this country between blacks and whites. If Mr. Robinson's epiphany is any indication, then maybe the divide is healing. But, what about those other groups out there? Are they healing? Will the Asian-American community feel inclined to just call themselves Americans after Obama's election? Or will that not end until we have the first Asian-American president? And we can't forget about Mexican-Americans or whatever other minority group exists. We haven't even begun to talk about other groups like the disabled, the handicapped and, heaven forbid, the homosexual community. Since we are apparently using winning the Presidency as a benchmark, I would not be surprised if these, and similar, groups don't rest until they have someone representing them in the White House. It is endless, and does not promote unity.

"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." Ephesians 2:11-18

I was talking to a Christian friend last night, herself a Mexican-American by common definition. We talked about how, as Christians, we have a common foundation in which to build from, in Christ. Any walls between us, based on different cultural backgrounds and life experiences, can begin to come down when we have a common faith in which to start. African-Americans have a tremendous history within the Church in which to build from when it comes to knocking down the differences that may still exist between them, whites and other groups. There are Christians of all racial and ethnic backgrounds in this country. What better place to start any healing process or communication between the groups then from the shared faith they have in common? Unfortunately, African-Americans have chosen to find an identity in their racial makeup rather than in Christ. Because of this they are forced to look at the history of blacks in this country and, therefore, do not have a common ground to build from. Like Paul states in Ephesians, like the Gentile separation from God, blacks, originally foreigners in this country because of slavery, were made to be separate, excluded, without hope and without God, in many instances. However, despite the Civil War which led to the ending of slavery, a civil rights movement that ended hundreds of years of institutionalized racism and many accomplishments, both private and public, by African-Americans, there is still a reluctance to think of ourselves as "equal." All the legal advancements designed to make blacks equal, destroy the barriers that separated them from inclusion in society, make them feel like men (and women), give them peace through the reconciliation of the races and equal access to the American Dream, has still had little effect on the psyche of the community as a whole.

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29

Whether you are African-American, Mexican-American, Asian-America, White-American, a slave, free or identify yourself with any other labels, if you are a born again Christian, we are all one in Christ! I understand the emotion and pride behind having the first black President of the United States. But, the fact that he is called the first "black" President is evidence that we have not yet reached the "mountaintop" Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed about. And as long as we continue to find our identity in our racial makeup we never will. Ken Ham, of Answers In Genesis Ministries says, "all humans basically have the same skin color—a brown pigment called melanin. Although there are a couple of forms of melanin and other pigments and factors playing minor roles in skin color, every human basically has a brown color. Lots of brown is called black, and a little brown color is called white. In actuality, no human really is “black” and no human is “white.” There are not different colors but different shades of one basic color, brown." This is even more evidence that separating ourselves by race is simply not of God. Earlier, Mr. Robinson wondered about finally being able to call himself an American. If he starts doing this, he has made a quantum leap in putting the racial divisions that separate the races behind us. But, I say we go one step further. All mankind has descended from Adam. Thus, we are all dead to God in sin and in need of the restoration of His life. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for that sin and now, raised from dead, He indwells every believer who has accepted Him by faith. As Christians we are all children of God. We may have different cultural backgrounds, different skin color and different experiences. But, we are all ambassadors of Christ, here to gather souls for the Kingdom, not try to determine if we can call ourselves equal in the eyes of our fellow countryman through economic, social or political gain.