RACE: Let's talk about it

They say that if you want to keep your friends, don't talk about three things: race, religion and politics. 

Today, I am going to talk about race. If you don't want to read my blog anymore after this topic is discussed then okay but I need to talk about this, in fact WE as a people who live on this planet Earth, need to start talking about things that nobody wants to talk about because only when we have the courage to speak our minds can we invoke change. Only when we have the courage to be REAL can we take off our masks and truly connect in a way that will inspire us to not only better understand each other but you might discover that you have more in common with people than your superficial differences.

Originally, I thought I'd do one of those "31 Days of..." blog post series about race but I've decided to write as the topics emerge from the recesses of my memory. So today's first post may be more of a rambling of several topics but I promise to make sure it gets more organized in presentation as this series on race relations continues in hopes of bringing about understanding and change for the better.

I would like to begin this discussion with my views on race and race relations: 

First, I'd like to say that I love and appreciate ALL of God's children from around the world. I love how He's made us different and unique and beautiful in our own individual ways. Do you know that not even our fingerprints are the same? That's right, with over a billion people around the world, you will NOT FIND ONE fingerprint that has a copy not even in the case of identical twins! God is Awesome! :)

So since God has made us all wonderfully unique and beautiful, it bothers me when people use our differences to draw lines and divide us up into different "race" categories and give the world the idea that there is only ONE way to look, act, speak, write and present yourself to the world that is "right". The mere fact that we have to identify ourselves as either a part of a "minority" or the "majority" bothers me because use of those two defining words gives the illusion that one party is better than the other or superior. God made us ALL equal as members of the HUMAN FAMILY! And on some days when life hits the hardest, the ONLY thing that comforts me is this fact: GOD DOES NOT PLAY FAVORITES! Read Acts 10:34 if you don't believe me. God loves us all! And He will always treat us fairly and equally not based on race but based on the pure fact that HE created us ALL and LOVES us with all His heart EQUALLY. And the only truth that comforts me one some days is that there are NO SLUMS IN HEAVEN. There's no "best part of town" or "worst part of town" because Jesus Christ is there as I write this, preparing a place for us that includes MANSIONS! There is no "rich class" or "working class" or "poor class"  in heaven! It's pure, it's holy and the very STREETS are MADE WITH GOLD! A pastor once said something to the effect of "Everyone is on LEVEL playing ground with God." It reassures my soul that in a world that can be unfair, cruel and cold, God is still in control and to Him being wealthy and affluent or poor and outcast does not make a difference in how HE deals with us! Again, GOD loves us ALL and only HE can see the true nature of our HEARTS, examine our motives and determine our true intentions and as a result, when He judges us, God is 100 percent fair in his conclusions, decisions and actions!

So yes, I love people from around the world and I believe that our features that make us different and unique should be celebrated NOT made fun of or looked down upon depending on where you live in this world or what situation you find yourself experiencing.

Okay, so now that you know how I see things on a primary level, I will stop here for this post today and continue another day.

A true writer at heart, I thrive on feedback. So please, tell me what you think! Leave a comment, encourage a conversation to invoke change. I know that all the problems of the world will NEVER be fixed (the Bible says that it will get worse until Jesus comes) but that's no excuse to make things worse on purpose through living in ignorance of people who aren't like you. Remember the "Golden Rule": Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In other words, treat people the way you'd like to be treated. Remember, everyone is fighting their own battle-- some you can see and some that you cannot-- so please try to be kind to everyone you encounter each and every day. And if you can't be nice then just don't say anything at all.

Finally, here's a thought to ponder: "There's only ONE RACE, the HUMAN RACE."

Black Woman Redefined!

Oh dear, where to begin?

The image of Black women in America and around the world has been assaulted, misconstrued, misunderstood, misrepresented and promoted as negative for what feels like FOREVER!

But here is a book that aims to redefine the image of Black women and how they are perceived.

Best described on the book's website, Black Woman Redefined is, "A groundbreaking, long overdue book that unveils an honest and thought provoking glimpse into the lives and souls of 21st century strong accomplished black women. This book provides a pathway and solutions for black women to reach beyond the stereotypes that often limit them, and the achievements that often define them. The book also encourages black women to redefine for themselves the important things in life, such as emotional wellness, intimacy, spirituality, and balance which often eludes them in their everyday lives. The book includes fresh, never before done national research on professional black women & men, as well as First Lady Michelle Obama which includes the opinions and observations of a diverse national sample of 1000 Americans (+/-3). The book's most interesting feature, however, beyond the author's personal narrative and research findings is that it brings together some of the best and brightest. Some of the most renowned journalists, celebrities, educators, life coaches, politicians and thought leaders of our time give young women of this present and next generation "sage wisdoms" to help them successfully navigate the storms of life."

Author Sophia A. Nelson does an amazing job of educating, informing and uplifting her audience in this page-turner of a book! You will want to read it straight through and you will want to have a conversation about it afterwards!

Speaking of conversation, here's a direct link to Sophia's conversation about her book and the reason she wrote it: http://postscriptd.com/the-image-of-black-women-needed-a-makeover-says-author/

I recommend this book to EVERYONE. Black women will be uplifted and encouraged that they are not alone in their plight which society would rather not acknowledge and women of all nationalities will be inspired to start a conversation about the issues discussed in this book.

Check it out on Amazon.com!

Sincerely,

Alexis

ALL stories should be told, not just one perspective

In Light of the Trayvon Martin case

The story of Trayvon Martin's death has made national news.

Christian gospel recording artist/speaker Angela Bryant-Brown has put her own spin on the bigger picture of this controversial case and you can hear it here:

"Being Black in the 21st Century: Perception vs. Acceptance"

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lifehappens/2012/03/29/being-black-in-the-21st-century-preception-vs-acception

After you've heard it, I'd like to know what you think. Leave a comment.

A movie about the cruel reality faced by dark-skin women

For more information, visit the official Dark Girls Movie website, http://officialdarkgirlsmovie.com/

Negra and Beautiful (feature story)

I found this article via Journalist Soledad O'Brien's official Twitter page.

I am sharing it to open conversation on an issue that's very real and in need of talking about to create healing and understanding. It's a hot topic and an issue that people often take offense to.

Without further ado, here's the direct link to the story:

http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/our-issues/negra-beautiful-unique-challenges-faced-afro-latinas