Black Lives Matter
I usually don’t post stuff like this, but I feel like this needs to be heard.
I have three adopted little sisters from Africa. They are my pride and joy, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Even at their young ages, I have seen them deal with discrimination and it breaks my heart. While I am thankful to live in a kind of community where adoption and blended families are more common, we have still dealt with side eyes and judgmental looks in other places, and it confuses and angers me. If you know me, you know that I am not one to be easily angered. But this is something that angers me more than anything else. It confuses me how people can still be racist toward others even after events like the Civil Rights Movement. Recently, it’s like people have forgotten about what leaders like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and many others have done to impact our world. Without leaders like them, my family would not be here today.
My final project to finish out my sophomore year of high school was to research a person in history that has impacted our world. I chose Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks is also a huge role model to my little sisters. While I spent my time working on this semester-long project, I also made sure my little sisters knew about her impact on the world and how they should never feel less than because of their skin color. Even on the days when discrimination happens, they need to know that they are beautiful and loved. Their velvety chocolate skin and their kinky, curly hair is what makes them, them! That’s how God created them, and He created them that way for a specific purpose. My family always makes sure that point gets across to them.
That also goes for everyone else. While I will never know what the black community goes through, it angers me that people set stereotypes solely based on skin color. It’s not right, it needs to stop, and we as Christians need to speak out and take action. From a Christian standpoint, I don’t think the main focus should be arguing wether the continuing protests are right or wrong. I think the main focus should be seeing this as an opportunity to use God through this and spread His Word. I think we also need to use this situation to stand up for what we believe in, to give others hope that God’s got this, and to trust Him that He’s going to use this for good. Just like He has with everything else. God always wins!
I intend to owe half of my heart to the leaders of the black community, because without them I wouldn't have the cherished friendships I have today, and my family of seven would not exist. To the people of the black community: my family supports you. We’re angered by this, but God’s got it. He knows that black lives matter, and that’s all that matters. He will use this situation for good.
To everyone: Yes, there are evil people out there. Cops can act out in ways they shouldn't. White people can be racist. Black people can be criminals. But… Not all black people are criminals. Not all white people are racist. Not all cops are bad. Stop setting stereotypes. Black lives matter.
Galatians 3:28
— “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”