Racism Within A Race?

Picture this: a young black couple meets in college and, after a long courtship, they realize that they’re meant for each other. They decide to marry, so they travel to meet one another’s parents. First, they go to the young man’s home where his parents warmly embrace and welcome his fiancée. Naturally, the couple expects to receive the same reaction from her parents, but that’s not the case—instead, it’s the opposite. Why? Her family thinks her fiancé is too dark—he didn’t pass the “paper-bag test” of being lighter than a brown paper bag.

Unfortunately, the issue of colorism, or “racism within a race,” has run rampant in many ethnic groups, including the African-American culture. Social status, marital desirability and economic and educational attainment have historically been determined according to the hue of a person’s skin.

For example, there is friction in the Latino community, where the main differences center around three major groups: white, Mestizo (blended) and black Hispanics. Then there is the debate over supposedly “good” hair (straight or wavy) versus “bad” hair (very curly, or “kinky”). Colorism is also prevalent in places such as India where the caste system—a class social structure—discriminates against those with darker complexions or less prestigious economic backgrounds.

Older Asian Americans from places like Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan look down on younger Asian generations because of their assimilation into Western culture. Their disapproval stems from their belief that young people have traded in their traditional Asian customs for Western ways. Natives of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh face intense scrutiny from parents for marrying outside their races, refusing arranged marriages or choosing careers that don’t measure up to the high standards their parents have set.

God is no respecter of persons, but He does look on the heart of man (Romans 2:11; 1 Samuel 16:7). He sees past the color of your skin and the texture of your hair. He doesn’t care if you speak English or Japanese, or if you’re a doctor or a laborer. In fact, God only sees two types of people—saved and unsaved—and His desire is for all come to Him, regardless of race. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

I encourage you to take your eyes off of the outward appearances of others and focus on the more pressing issue of building the kingdom of God. Don’t allow the Enemy to distract you from winning souls because of racial differences. Be about your Father’s business. Now is the time for the greatest harvest of souls this world has ever seen.