Past Experiences With Racism & One Thing I Wish I Had Done Differently

Recently, I came across a quote that I really appreciate on a GotQuestions.org article.

It reads, “Concerning racism, we can all agree that no one should be judged by the color of his or her skin. We should fight against all true forms of racism and be compassionate to its victims. Through it all, we should point people to Christ as the only answer for racism. Protests, policies, awareness, changes to the legal system, etc., will never solve the problem. Racism is the result of sin. Until the sin problem is dealt with—until people become new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)—the problem of racism will never be eradicated. Only in Christ can racial reconciliation be found: ‘For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility’ (Ephesians 2:14)” (How should Christians view the Black Lives Matter movement?).

I also love this article on their website.

Sometimes the experiences I have had with racism and discrimination feel like burdens on my shoulders. I am grateful that I can surrender those burdens to Jesus Christ.

In recent years, whenever I find myself reflecting on those experiences, one thought has continuously come to mind: I wish that, when faced with certain instances of racism, I had been willing to have a thoughtful, open conversation with the individual(s) perpetrating a racist thought or concept as opposed to immediately getting offended and labelling them negatively and/or cutting them out of my life.

Now, there are certain situations where this just would not have been possible for various reasons.

But in moments where it would have been possible, I wish I had understood how to (and been willing to) have conversations that could have served to educate and better people I loved who were, in hindsight, victims of ignorant ideas.

Racism hurts. It is painful.

Especially when it comes from someone we care about.

But I understand now that there were many instances in my life where the racism I encountered was a product of ideas that needed to be confronted and unlearned.

There were people in my life who did not intend to hurt me but who were speaking or acting based on wrong things they had been taught or instilled with.

Just as there were things I needed to unlearn and learn, there were things they needed to unlearn and learn as well.

In a perfect world, conversations like this would not be necessary.

But this is not a perfect world.

This is a broken, fallen and sinful world where racism often rears its ugly head.

The only One Who can solve the problem of racism is Jesus Christ.