Testimonies

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JUST TRY IT


by M. Kenya Branch

Growing up in the 1960’s, I started wondering about the disparity I saw among neighborhoods in and around my city, Philadelphia. From my inner city perspective, the world seemed a modest place until I got a glimpse of wealthy neighborhoods in and outside of the city. Till then, I thought the neighborhoods I saw on “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best” were merely idealized concoctions that existed only in TV land.

As I got older, I learned the truth about society – there was a conspiracy, a sinister plot by the “white man” to get rid of inner city America. Segregated black neighborhoods were just a component of genocide. I read voraciously and monitored the news with a suspicious eye. I devoured all the works I could find by Malcolm X, Angela Davis, The Black Panthers, Rap Brown and others… In my mind, the problem was simply the “white man,” Western society. It was a cultural war, “us against them.” “They” didn’t like me. I wasn’t going to like "them." I was going to be an example for my people, (my youth not withstanding), a strong black man.

But simultaneously, other events made subtle impressions on my spirit. I became involved in an integrated and very progressive Mennonite church. My junior high school was also racially diverse. In both settings, I easily made white friends. Maybe it was “us” against just some of “them.”

In college, I met a white student who was warm and generous with everyone, regardless of skin color or nationality. His roommate was black and the three of us became friends. I learned that people of different cultures, nationalities and ethnicity’s were not natural enemies. People of diverse backgrounds have more than enough in common to be friends and to share love, if they would just try.

It is now evident to me that the “white man” is not the enemy. Neither is any race of people. In fact, there is no scientific basis for the concept of race at all. Race is a socio-political and economic construct. It’s an artificial measuring stick. Yes, there are different skin tones, cultures and ethnic groups, but no group is monolithic, unified on the specifics of any particular agenda or inherently all good or all bad.

Theoretically, there is no significant difference between a poor black bus boy in Chicago and a poor white farm worker in Arkansas. But a climate of racial polarization could prevent these peers from considering their commonality because of more or less melanin.

Those who hate because of color teach that races and bloodlines shouldn’t mix. I submit that it would be difficult to find an era in world history when bloodlines weren’t mixed, especially in the Americas. Some theologically challenged individuals even assert that the bible is against “race mixing.” On the contrary, the bible teaches that God is not a respecter of persons. It points out that all people are descendants of Adam and Eve, who
were created by Almighty God. The enemy of all people, everywhere, is Satan, who has deceived the whole world, by pitting humanity against itself. Imagine the progress mankind could make if we united to fight poverty, hunger, crime, illiteracy, homelessness, war, the destruction of the environment and all conditions that threaten lives globally.

Skin color has worldly significance, but is insignificant spiritually. It is not how we will be ultimately judged, for I have a strong suspicion that one’s entrance into heaven or hell will not be determined by skin color. I suspect that many people who are against one group or another have never had a friendly intelligent discussion about race with someone from that group. Let’s try it before we criticize, ostracize or dehumanize people. God, who makes no mistakes, made all of us.


Brother M. Kenya Branch is an independent minister, author, screenwriter, and producer, involved in reconciliation ministry. He resides near Philadelphia, Pa. and often writes on diversity topics. An abridged version of this article appeared in the Judson Press book From One Brother To Another. 1996

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