Race Is Now the Elephant in the Room Even When There Is No Elephant

Posted Jun 25, 2021 by Michael L. Brown

We are in real danger of doing deep, lasting damage to the very fabric of our nation by making everything into an issue of race. In fact, the more we blame every problem on race, the deeper our race problems will get. We will see things that are not there. We will misdiagnose the symptoms. We will overcompensate. We will make things worse.

In the end, we will deepen the divides that do exist and create new divides where they do not exist. And rather than foster reconciliation, healing, unity, and progress, we will produce bitterness, resentment, anger, and condemnation. We will go backwards rather than forwards, all in the name of justice and equality.

Yet every day, from our children’s schools to the popular culture, a false and dangerous narrative is being pushed. We either confront it, or we implode.

Mary Margaret Olohan stated concisely that, “CRT holds that America is fundamentally racist, yet it teaches people to view every social interaction and person in terms of race.”

If someone is rude to you, it’s because of race.

If you get fired and another person gets hired, it’s because of race.

If you get sick and your neighbor doesn’t, it’s because of race.

If you get a poor grade in school, it’s because of race.

That’s because everything is about race and America is fundamentally racist.

If you are white you are guilty by default; if you are a person of color (especially black) you are a victim.

That is now the lens through which everything must be seen. That is the filter through which everything must be interpreted. That’s why I said that soon enough, we are seeing things that are not there.

Consequently, since many things have nothing to do with race, yet we are told that everything has to do with race, we end up ignoring the real issues that are race related. And so, rather than focusing on valid concerns (which do exist), we create new (and non-existent) areas of concern. We regress rather than progress.

When we claim that math is racist and grammar is racist and reading classical literature is racist, we actually create racial tension, as many push back against this crazy social engineering.

When we pull the race card unless there is equality of outcome, we exacerbate the victim mentality.

And when we put a constant emphasis on the color of people’s skin, that becomes the main thing we think about. Ironically, this leads to the exact opposite of Dr. King’s dream that his four little children would 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.”

Today, we’re doing the exact opposite, putting the greater emphasis on the color of one’s skin, as if skin color were more determinative of a person’s character and potential than what is inside of them.

And when we constantly make everything into a matter of race, then race becomes the first – and primary – thing we see.

It’s like telling someone you’ll give them $1,000 if they don’t think about pink elephants for an hour. You’ll never have to pay the bet since they’ll constantly think about pink elephants for the next hour.

Right now, I’m in Tupelo, Mississippi speaking at a marriage and family conference hosted by the American Family Association. And the conference has a great ethnic mix, with people of different colors joining together around common spiritual interests.

We are focused on Jesus, on the Scriptures, on God’s plan for marriage, on holy sexuality, on raising godly kids in a godless culture. And there is a great feeling of unity in the air.

In an environment like this, we could have candid discussions about race relationships in America. We could share different perspectives on what we see as the most important priorities for healing our nation. We could give each other license to speak candidly, eager to see if we had blind spots.

That’s because we would be starting from a position of unity, of love, of oneness in the Lord.

But if race had been the focus, with the presupposition that America is fundamentally racist, there would be suspicion. And mistrust. And anger. And resentment. And finger-pointing. And self-loathing.

Rather than viewing each other as part of the same family, we could divide over race and ethnicity. Division, not unity, would be our starting point.

I recently hosted sports commentator Chris Broussard on my radio show, but not to talk sports (although he indulged me by answering a few sports questions at the outset, just for fun). Instead, I asked him to join me on the air as a Christian leader with an important Christian men’s ministry.

Specifically, I asked him to present his ideas on a biblical case for reparations, not as a penalty but in pursuit of righteousness.

To be sure, there are few subjects more controversial than this. And I said plainly at the start of our conversation that, in the past, I associated reparations with the radical left rather than with the Bible.

Yet we could have this discussion openly and honestly because of our unity in Jesus and because of our mutual respect for one another in the Lord. That was our starting point.

In the same way, it is only by recognizing that America today is not fundamentally racist and that most Americans want to see an equal playing field for others that we can make progress where we need to.

It is by starting here, with the understanding that I care about people who are different than me, that we can have the difficult conversations we need to have and address the real issues of concern.

Otherwise, we will end up chasing phantoms and demonizing good people. And by making everything into a matter of race, will end up creating a much worse, much more dangerous racism.

America, what will it be? We will unify and make progress together? Or will we deepen the divide?

Tags:

Race Relations

Comments

OT posted a comment · Aug 22, 2021

No it’s a black women who is saying there is no racism in America according to Candace Owens, of the daily wire.

bc9765 posted a comment · Jul 04, 2021

Dr. Brown, I am afraid that your fears concerning American society have blinded you to certain things. Is it true or false that some things affect certain minority communities in a greater way ? Do you know about how concentration of numbers of abortion facilities in minority communities compared to others ? Certainly that has to do with the historic wealth that are found in those communities... Have you looked at the percentages pertaining to marriage with regards to African American women compared to women of other races ? Certainly it has to do with the fact that African American women are unattractive and less marriageable compared to other women. Look up the words of Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, and see what she had to say about black people !!! This institution is alive and kicking today !!! Race may not matter, well meaning people may not want it to matter. But it has CERTAINLY shaped the fabric of American society. You can't erase history !!!

yeshuais4me posted a comment · Jul 04, 2021

I John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the Evil One. Not to long ago if you listen or watch the news we learned that hundreds of children graves were found in Kamloos, about 160 miles northwest of Vancouver, Canada. This brought back memories of a book I read in the seventies “Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee”. This told of the abuse of the Indian tribes by the Europeans who invaded and took over the Indians land. I remember not reading the complete book due to not wanting to believe that the Europeans would do the things that were reported. Reading the news reports reminded me of a phrase used during war time. “He who wins the war writes history”. There are other variations but you get the idea and should realize that words of man are not always to be trusted. God does not have any favorites when it come to the creation of the human race: Deuteronomy 10:15-18 (CJB) 15 Only Adonai (God) took enough pleasure in your ancestors to love them and choose their descendants after them — yourselves — above all peoples, as he still does today. 16 Therefore, circumcise the foreskin of your heart; and don’t be stiff necked any longer! 17 For Adonai your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and awesome God, who has no favorites and accepts no bribes. 18 He secures justice for the orphan and the widow; he loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. What God creates for His pleasure, He has no favorites. Today most people do not want to believe that the earth is under the power of the Evil One. So let us look at some very truthful things in the history of the church. John 14 14 “Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also (the second coming as the Messiah). 4 Furthermore, you know where I’m going; and you know the way there.” 5 T’oma (Thomas one of the twelve) said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Yeshua said, “I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me. 7 Because you have known me, you will also know my Father; from now on, you do know him — in fact, you have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it will be enough for us.” 9 Yeshua (the Messiah) replied to him, “Have I been with you so long without your knowing me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me? What I am telling you, I am not saying on my own initiative; the Father living in me is doing his own works. 11 Trust me, that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me (the Messiah is the Father and the Father is the Messiah). But if you can’t, then trust because of the works themselves. 12 Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! Indeed, he will do greater ones, because I am going to the Father. 13 In fact, whatever you ask for in my name, I will do; so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me for something in my name, I will do it. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands; 16 and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me (the Messiah), the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. 17 The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be united with you. 18 I will not leave you orphans — I am coming to you. 19 In just a little while, the world will no longer see me; but you will see me. Because I live, you too will live. 20 When that day comes, you will know that I am united with my Father, and you with me, and I with you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me, and the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” 22 Y’hudah (not the one from K’riot) said to him, “What has happened, Lord, that you are about to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Yeshua answered him, “If someone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Someone who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words — and the word you are hearing is not my own but that of the Father who sent me. 25 “I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, he will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 “What I am leaving with you is shalom (peace) — I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened. 28 You heard me tell you, ‘I am leaving, and I will come back to you (Second coming of the Messiah).’ If you loved me, you would have been glad that I am going to the Father; because the Father is greater than I. (meaning the Father is greater than the Messiah, God in the flesh.) 29 “Also, I have said it to you now, before it happens; so that when it does happen, you will trust. 30 “I won’t be talking with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming (I John 5:19). He has no claim on me; 31 rather, this is happening so that the world may know that I love the Father, and that I do as the Father has commanded me. “Get up! Let’s get going! Numbers 23:19 “God is not a human who lies or a mortal who changes his mind. When God says something, God will do it; when God makes a promise, he will fulfill it. Deuteronomy 4:19 For the same reason, do not look up at the sky, at the sun, moon, stars and everything in the sky, and be drawn away to worship and serve them; Adonai your God has allotted these to all the peoples under the entire sky. Deuteronomy 10:14 See, the sky, the heaven beyond the sky, the earth and everything on it all belong to Adonai your God. Deuteronomy 17:3 by going and serving other gods and worshipping them, the sun, the moon, or anything in the sky — something I have forbidden — Major prophets also tell us not to worship objects in the sky. The point is that we need to worship the Creator and not His creations. Example # 1 - the sun The sun is a creation of our Creator God. This creation has been worshipped by the pagan nations for thousands of years. As technology advanced in the world, man discover a consistency in the length of a day on a certain date. In the more populated areas of the world as the days got shorter they asked things like, is the world going to be in total darkness? With the invention of time telling devices like sun dials, water clocks, etc. the world could tell when days were getting shorter and then longer. The length of shortest day is very consistently December 21 (using the Gregorian calendar) or what we call today the winter solstice. So when man discovered that days were getting longer some where around 1500BC/CBE they all said let us celebrate, it is going to get warm again. Most churches still celebrate December 25 or some time during the December/January time frame. This is against God’s commands. Remember that we show our love to God by following His mitzvah (commands, directions). From the verses above out of Deuteronomy we can see that worship of things in the sky is against God. Know that there are other verses in the Bible showing this. Know that the world was largely pagan until Emperor Constantine was totally in charge of the Roman Empire. Constantine is known as the first Roman Emperor to profess Christianity; however, there appears to be no hard evidence that Constantine was ever a Christian. Today we can see evidence of the opposite. When Constantine's father died Constantine the Great immediately order new coins struck at the mints he controlled by changing the inscription from the traditional “To the Genius of the Roman people” to “To the Unconquered Sun (Sol Invictus) my companion”. This new coin stayed in circulation for more than one hundred years after the death of Constantine in 337AD. You can buy one of these coins today at a very reasonable price. This information comes from “Constantine’s Sword chapter 19” written by James Carroll. Example # 2 - Milvian Bridge There was a battle at Milvian Bridge and before the battle Emperor Constantine had a vision that many believed led to the victory at Milvian Bridge. First understand that there were many different opinions about what happened at Milvian Bridge. I have my own opinion as to what happened. Know that the one true God tells us not to worship objects in the sky. Well it appears that Constantine created his vision in the sky or had a dream about what was to happened. There is no hard evidence as to where this vision came from. What I do know is that nobody knows who wrote “He who wins the war writes the history of the war”. Winston Churchill wrote a similar verse near the end of WWII: “History is written by the victors”. The point being how do we verify what is truth. In my life time there have been only the words of God and His prophets that we have seen in truth when a prophecy is fulfilled. Examples would be the Messiah being born in the seventh month on the fifteenth day in the Hebrew sh’mittah year 3756. Know Hebrew customs and follow Luke 1 day by day to the birth of the Messiah, then go to the gospel of Matthew for the date of the death of the Messiah in the first month late on the 14th day then the resurrection on 18th day of the first month. See Matthew 12:40 and resurrection 27:63, remember that the Hebrew day starts at sundown. When calculating dates on a calendar always use a Hebrew Biblical calendar, not any other calendar. Convert to a calendar of your choice after you have your result from the Hebrew Biblical calendar. Example below Passover 30AD not 33AD. Notice that the resurrection was 30AD not 33AD as told by man also on the first day of the week only in 30 AD. Now for a truth that almost nobody in America wants to hear. When Emperor Constantine took over full control of the Roman Empire he started to change things to the way he wanted. First for almost two thousand years the Romans celebrated on December 25, Sol Invictus, the unconquerable sun. When the mother of Constantine convinced Constantine to make the Roman Empire a Christian Empire there were problems that had to be solved. The first one was how do you take a Pagan empire and convince the people to follow God. It is easy when you do not know, you lie and continue to worship a lot of the pagan ways. At some point in (range being between 326 and 6CE the cross became a symbol of Christianity. Also there was a long time when Sol Invictus was celebrated on December 25, around two thousand years. Then in one year it was changed from Sol Invictus to the birth of the Messiah (Christ Mas, Christmas) was celebrated on December 25 replacing Sol Invictus but keeping the same date, December 25. If you learn from God’s word you will see that the Messiah was born during the Sh’mittah year 3756 (year of release) using the Hebrew Biblical calendar. We can see that in the last 100 years it appears that the followers of God did not follow His commands of the Sh’mittah year, Deuteronomy 15. Know that God is very clear and to the point concerning His human creation. Read what follows, no need to explain. Deuteronomy 10:17 - For Adonai your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and awesome God, who has no favorites and accepts no bribes. Acts 10:34 - Then Kefa addressed them: “I now understand that God does not play favorites, Followers of God know that we are equal in God’s eyes. Also, anyone who has hate toward God’s creation will end up in the weeds. The Messiah tells us a number of times that if we do not follow God’s directions we will not have peace when the end comes. Also know that God tells us many times not to worship objects made by man’s hands. Isaiah 2:8 - Their land is full of idols; everyone worships the work of his hands, what his own fingers have made.  Isaiah 17:8 - He will pay no heed to the altars made with his own hands, he will not turn toward what his fingers made, the sacred poles and standing-stones for sun-worship  Jeremiah 1:16 - will pronounce my judgments against them for all their wickedness in abandoning me, offering incense to other gods and worshipping what their own hands made.  Jeremiah 25:6 - Don’t follow other gods by serving and worshipping them. “Don’t provoke my anger with things your own hands have made; then I will do you no harm.  Micah 5:12 - I will cut off your carved images and standing-stones from among you; no longer will you worship what your own hands have made.  Revelation 9:20 - The rest of mankind, those who were not killed by these plagues, even then did not turn from what they had made with their own hands — they did not stop worshipping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. Have you ever seen a forest of crosses created by God? April 0030 AD - Gregorian calendar 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Nisan 3790 - Hebrew Biblical calendar 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Three days center of the earth. The forth day was the resurrection and the first day of the week.

Deancooper posted a comment · Jul 03, 2021

I agree with what you wrote Dr. Brown but you seem to be missing the huge elephant in the room. The division happening in our country has been created on purpose, by Marxists who need there to be oppressed and oppressor classes. This is how they foment revolution to totally change America. Of course they imagine they will be creating a utopia, but history shows otherwise. We are in a real battle for the soul and future of our country and if the Marxists win, I have no doubt that lots of people will die, and the remainder will be stuck in a place that becomes like Venezuela is now. Some utopia.

MsRhuby posted a comment · Jul 02, 2021

I remember a scene in a movie about Malcolm X. Another man had Malcolm read a dictionary and see how much racism there is. Malcolm X - Dictionary scene - TheOncomingStorm

OT posted a comment · Jun 28, 2021

dolt!