"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
I share that dream for my three little children, a dream explored in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most deservedly influential speech.
Why has MLK's speech endured? Why are we hearing excerpts of it today on TV and talk radio? Because it's true: While skin color, ethnicity, cultural heritage, and the such are of some interest, those things ultimately define neither us nor our neighbors.
Today, as I remember the work of Rev. King, I'm finding my very understanding of "race" challenged. Maybe I need to move beyond the concept of "race relations," perhaps even doing away with using the term "race" altogether, at least as it's typically defined. After all, what if this premise -- that "race" is even relevant -- is the very obstacle keeping us from true reconciliation, from making peace with those who look different from us?
If you're intrigued by any of this, I challenge you to read the following four-part series by Thabiti Anyabwile and leave your comments below. If you're on Facebook, I'd further challenge you to share these articles there, with the hopes of extending this discussion outside of the Focus on the Family community.
"After all, what if this premise -- that "race" is even relevant -- is the very obstacle keeping us from true reconciliation, from making peace with those who look different from us?"
I've wondered about that for awhile...how can you have peace when every race is calling for equality while at the same time wanting to be special and respected in relation to other races? It just turns into a different kind of contest between races. I'd rather live in a world where race is irellevant.
Is that realistic? I guess not. But, it seems that it's what we should strive for.