Folks, I need to clear something up. I do not favor one group of people above another. Also, when I point out the inconsistencies or hypocrisies of one group, that doesn’t mean I’m on the other’s side. Over the years, I have been accused of “hating to be black” or that I’m “trying to play up to the white man,” whatever that means. I have been accused of pointing out the faults of black folks and not pointing out the flaws of white folks, as if I’m trying to side with white people. On October 21, 1986, I committed to following Jesus as my Lord and Savior. What little hatred I had for white folks disintegrated and I see everyone as equals. Now, I understand everyone doesn’t see me as an equal and that is fine; that’s the world we live in. However, I am a firm believer in I Thessalonians 5:15 which states: “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men .” To me, that scripture transcends race, financial status, amount of talent, etc. It tells me to walk in love, no matter what. Now, I’m not saying if someone is threatening you or your loved ones with physical harm that you are not to protect and defend yourself. Even so, if your enemy is in need and you can meet that need, we are obligated to help them (Proverbs 25:21). Also, walking in love doesn’t mean I withhold correction from you if I see you doing something wrong or committing an error.

Being a black person has been somewhat of a liability for me (not simply because I’m black), but because I’m expected to think a certain way; and that means to think along the lines of mainstream black America. If you don’t, you’re seen as misinformed, an outcast, or a traitor. In other words, I’m seen as not really being black (Hey! Who let Joe Biden in here?)

Incidentally, it’s this mentality that led to the name of this blog.

Anyway, I am expected to gripe about being a victim or about the shortage of opportunities black people supposedly have. I’m supposed to be angry and march lock-step with my fellow contemporaries. One thing that really fries my bacon are the various black leaders that act as if they speak for me, like they’re taking up the cause for the sake of every black person in this country. They tell us to circle the wagons, so to speak, to prepare for the next race war. Some even say that one day, black people are going to rise up and cut down our white “oppressors” and put them in chains like they did to us during the times of slavery. We will rule and oppress them like they did to us during the Civil Rights Era and Jim Crow.

I’m not sure many of my readers are knowledgeable of the Japanese soldiers who continued to fight for their cause long after the end of World War II, either not realizing the war was over or refusing to believe so. If not, read about it here.

We are still fighting a war that ended a long time ago. Given, I’m not saying that there are absolutely no racist white folks in America today who will withhold showing their racism. But the Aryan Nation, Ku Klux Klan, and the myriad of other white supremacist groups are not the major problem blacks are confronting today. Neither is so-called systemic racism, in which some believe there is some coded information within our laws that are a detriment to black people. Just because I call out the shortcomings in the group I am part of doesn’t mean that I side with the other. I despise organizations such as those mentioned above but I also detest the likes of Black Lives Matter, Antifa, the NAALCP, and Occupy Democrats.

Okay, okay! But can you tell me why you’re always pointing out the faults of black people more than you do white people?

Before I answer, let me ask you a question: Would it be okay for you to just point out the faults of white people and not anyone else? Would you exercise the same anger that you direct at me for pointing out black folks shortcomings? I’ll answer both questions with an emphatic NO! What I have noticed is that the AOB (Apostles of Blackness) have no problem criticizing other groups for their flaws but are reluctant to point out their own. I believe this is because, subconsciously, they don’t want to see their fellow black folks stamped with a mark of negativity…well, that is until they run across one of their recalcitrant members that decide to think for themselves, but I digress.

Now, let me answer the question.

1 Peter 4:17-For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

One of the easiest (and cowardly) things we can do as humans is to point out the faults of others or to blame someone else for one’s shortcomings. While it is true that what others do to us can affect us for the rest of our lives, too many of us use this situation to conveniently ease our feelings. We may blame our bad grades on our strict teachers, when we didn’t even make an effort to study or turn in our assignments. We may accuse a teammate for making the mistake that cost us the game while at the same time failing to realize we didn’t contribute much to winning the contest ourselves. Or, a robber may blame society for his penchant for stealing because “the rich have everything;” they also believe they are not guilty of the crimes they commit based on this reasoning.

What I am trying to say here is that we need to be responsible for the actions we commit that lead to negative consequences. While my loyalties aren’t strictly geared towards black folks, I want nothing more than to see my fellow black compatriots to succeed as well as anyone else. My point-of-view doesn’t come from a hatred for my race or ethnicity (Gaslighting 101), but from a love and concern for the well-being of those with whom I carry a common trait. It has been said that one who judges himself will not be judged by others (well, not unrighteously) and this is so true. With a relatively few exceptions, those who determine within themselves to be law-abiding persons who want to do what is right tend not to be “harassed” by those whose job it is to punish lawbreakers. As of this writing, I am 54-years old and have had few interactions with LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) with the exceptions of a couple of speeding tickets and an incident in Washington, DC in 1987 (this interaction had nothing to do with my skin color). Why is that? It is because I made the personal decision to do the right thing. I don’t do drugs, the last time I had an alcoholic beverage was in the 1980s, and I don’t rob people or businesses of their hard-earned dollars, no matter how desperate the situation.

Not one time have I had a gun pulled out on me by a cop, had the police called on me because I was walking through an affluent neighborhood, or been racially profiled. Now, I can’t judge another person’s experience, but I’m told that because I’m black I need to expect that type of treatment. When I tell people that a lot of what they’ve experienced has yet to step on my property, I’m told I’m either delusional or “lucky.” Being a person who doesn’t believe in luck, I can attribute my experiences to my mentality to not use my skin color to make excuses for my shortcomings nor to let it set the course of my emotions. Also, if something occurs in my life that has a negative outcome, I look at myself first before pointing my finger at others. If the majority of black America would do this collectively, we would see major changes in our interactions with society.

Therefore, I am harder on my fellow black folks than anyone else because I know we can do better…much better. Romans 12:21 states:

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

When I see the actions committed by black folks in this nation, it’s almost like they’re saying “Hey, the white folks did it to us. Now it’s time we did it back to them!” As if every white person is responsible for the oppression and suffering of black people, while remaining ignorant to the transgressions black folks commit against other blacks in this country and beyond. Our black preachers have done their communities a disservice by preaching civil rights in lieu of the Gospel. In their eyes, preaching civil rights is preaching the Gospel.

Now, it is time for me to get into trouble.

Which one of our favorite civil rights leaders preach on the saving grace of Jesus Christ? William Barber? Jesse Jackson? Al Sharpton? Martin Luther King, Jr. (I know I’m going to stir up a hornet’s nest with that mention)? The sad thing is a lot of black churches that preach the Gospel also like to slip in the message of civil rights as well. I have come to the realization that if we would preach the Gospel according to the Holy Scriptures, the issue of civil rights will be taken care of automatically. However, the problem with black churchgoers is that we tend to idolize our skin color over the Gospel. We may believe Jesus exists, but our melanin is to be exalted above anything else. We shout may “Hallelujah!” but don’t you forget that we’re black above all else and deserve to be treated more special than anyone else.

There is a sect of black racists known as the Black Hebrew Israelites (which comprises several other sub-sects). While they may vary in their teachings, they all believe that God’s grace is only extended to the non-white populations of the world and that the 12 Tribes of Israel are the true ancestors of the “colored” races around the world. Suspiciously missing from this list are the white folks who they believe to be descendants of the Edomites, and, therefore, not open to God’s mercy. They like to harp on Romans 9:13 to make their point:

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Their belief is that Esau was white and was the precursor to today’s white races, while Jacob was black and was the ancestor to today’s black race. So, they have cherry-picked and twisted this scripture (eisegesis) to fit their messed-up, racist mentalities. The really sad thing about all of this is that this erroneous teaching has permeated into black “Christian” churches. Many black preachers believe when the Scriptures talk about the people of God, it’s talking specifically about black people. Of course, this leads to the tedious debate of whether Jesus was Negro or Caucasian. While we are being distracted by these petty dialogues, the true Gospel is overlooked:

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Matthew 23:24

Whether Jesus is white or black bears no significance to His true purpose, but many of us will waste precious time over this pointless rhetoric. When we stand before God for judgment, we won’t be judged on whether we believed Jesus is black or white, if we voted Democrat or Republican, if we are conservative or liberal, or if we were strong advocates for civil rights. We are going to be judged on our faithfulness to God. Did we uphold the truth or not? Neither political party holds a monopoly on the truth nor do any of the various races of people around the world. You can be the best conservative supporter ever, but if you don’t know Jesus as Lord, eternal life won’t be your destination; the same goes for if you are liberal.

Let me say this and this is especially to you black so-called Christians: Many black folks are going to wind up in an eternally warm, godless place because they care more about social issues, politics, and their skin color more than they do the Word of God. That may seem harsh but that is how it is. We cling to social issues so dearly, we open ourselves to deception without knowing it. How many of us still believe Michael Brown had his hands up pleading with officer Darren Wilson not to shoot him? How many of us still believe Breonna Taylor was killed in her sleep by a bunch of gung-ho police officers? How many of us believe George Floyd was executed simply because he used a phony $20 bill? How many of us believe in “systemic racism” that aims to keep black people down and seeks to convict us of the pettiest of crimes?

Like I’ve said before, people love to jump to conclusions about why I believe the way I do. Instead of approaching me with an open mind, they act as if they have me all figured out. They won’t stay quiet long enough in order to gain an understanding of my point of view, but they’ll accuse others of doing the same. What I have found out is that my accusers are WAY more guilty of the transgressions they accuse me of and I don’t think it’s because they have reached a reasonable conclusion. My belief is they don’t want to believe anything else; in other words, their belief about me is based on a selective thought pattern which leads to a selective outrage result.

When I was in growing up, I wasn’t a well-liked person. It wasn’t because I was a jerk or something, folks just did not like me. As awkward as I was, I guess this was plenty enough to fuel their hatred for me. Someone could accuse me falsely of something like talking about their mother and they would believe it at the drop of a hat and want to fight me. The evidence is so prevalent of my innocence, Ray Charles could see it. That doesn’t matter, the door has opened for them to deal with the object of their hatred and they won’t let that opportunity pass. On the other hand, one of their buddies could actually be guilty of the same crime but he and his friends will have a good laugh about it and exchange jokes about one another’s mothers (I am not endorsing one to talk about another’s mother or any family member for that matter, so stop typing). I call this Hater’s Syndrome – believe anything negative or react negatively to anyone you hate, but don’t do the same to those you don’t hate. Victims of Hater’s Syndrome don’t stand a chance with those who hate them. No matter what good you do it never seems to get noticed; do something negative and that’s all they’ll remember no matter how innocent the act was.

This is why I’ve learned not to back down on my point of view. You can insult me, mentally or physically abuse me, put me in the hospital, threaten me with death, etc. I’m not saying your insults won’t hurt me (I’ve been stung by lots of insults over the course of my life), but you won’t intimidate me to change my mind. I remember watching the Marvel movie Avengers: Civil War before the franchise got all woke on us. In one scene, Iron Man was beating the pure fluff out of Captain America. Tony Stark (Iron Man) told him to stay down. Captain America stood defiantly, bloody and bruised and said “I can do this all day.” I will stick to my guns no matter the level of hurt, so bring it on.

Being a truth-bearer is not going to endear one to a myriad of friends. The truth cramps a lot of people’s style and makes them uncomfortable when its light shines and reveal their lifestyles. They see no other way but to continue in their present lifestyle because it’s all they’ve known for a long time, truth be damned.

Mark Twain once said:

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

I find it quite difficult to argue with that.

So, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Now, if you can read what I have posted here and still come to the same opinion you had about me, bless your heart. I can’t do anymore for you. You go ahead and do your thing and I’ll do mine. If it means we need to part ways to never speak to one another again, so be it. All I’m about is telling the truth and doing God’s will. I’m not saying you have to agree with me in order for us to get along, but if you disrespect me because my point of view is different than yours…well, I’ll just let you fill in the blanks.

You all have a good day and I’ll see you on the rebound.