Okay, folks. Show of hands. How many of you were born on Venus?

Anyone? Anyone?

Okay. How many of you were born on Mars?

*crickets*

Right. What about Jupiter or maybe one of its moons?

Still no one? So, would it be safe to assume that everyone reading this was born on earth? I’m not a gambler, but I’m sure that’s a very safe bet. A sure thing, actually.

Sorry for the runaround, but the point is, all people are born on earth. All people are humans. And contrary to what any evolutionary theory may suggest (yes, it is still just a theory), different species of humans did not spring up out of the ground in different geographical areas around the globe. I’ll get to the real origins in a moment, but there can be no such thing as multiple races on this planet. Only one, the human race.

According to Dictionary.com, the definition of racism is “a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.”

But as we’ve just stated, there are no “racial groups” on the planet. Simply groups of people with differing physical characteristics. Since there is only one race, how can true racism exist?

I’m not making a philosophical point based in logic. I’m correcting a semantic argument that is covering up the truth and keeping people apart.

Yes, some people have problems accepting those who are different from themselves. Doesn’t matter whether it’s the type and color of their hair, the size and shape of their nose, or the amount of melanin in their skin which causes some to be lighter or darker than others. It’s called prejudice and partiality, and when it’s based on physical attributes over which no one has any control, it’s absolutely foolish.

So, what difference does it make what we call it?

Because, fighting a war over a lie is a war that can never be won. Taking steps to change attitudes about races that don’t exist doesn’t combat the true problem.

You must accept that all people are the same, are of the same race. That relegates all differences to mere surface attributes and reassigns achievement to the individual, not the result of belonging to a particular group.

Take the “Red Tails” of the Tuskegee Airmen from the Second World War for example. They were a fighter squadron made up of those with dark skin. It was believed that those of dark skin, known as Negros back then and African Americans today (different labels, same prejudice), didn’t have the ability to fly sophisticated aircraft. Besides being totally foolish and ignorant on its face, that belief was proven false by the service of those great veterans.

Once you understand that each person is endowed with their own set of attributes, talents, and abilities, you can begin to see him or her as a specific, unique individual. Not just another cookie cutter drone with a group label.

And that is what it takes to combat prejudice.

As to our creation as humans, the Bible is clear about that.

Genesis 1:26-27, and 2:7-23, tell us that God made man from the dust of the earth. He made one man and one woman and told them to be fruitful and multiply. All of mankind came from those two individuals, Adam and Eve.

And in case you prefer the New Testament, you can check Acts 17:26. The Apostle Paul, in referring to God says, “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.”

Notice he referred to every nation of men, not every race of men. Semantics, yes. But that’s the point. The Bible doesn’t refer to different races of man, only different family groups and different nations.

In the early days of mankind, it was common to see those family groups all having the same physical characteristics as well as entire nations as such. But as time went by, the groups intermarried within the nations so the lines of characteristics aren’t as clean cut anymore. Which I imagine is something God intended from the beginning.

That’s why it says in John 3:16, that God so loved “the world” that He gave His only begotten Son. Every single person in the world, regardless of their physical attributes or where they lived.

Martin Luther King, Jr. had it right. A person should be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.

That is the only way to combat prejudice. See people for who they are.

Individual humans. Made in the image of God Himself.

---

Thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to comment and let me know what you think!