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It’s no secret that our country is in an historic season. First, we’ve had to endure a COVID-19 pandemic which has been taking the life of people worldwide. Amongst this pandemic period, we’re having to endure the taking of black lives at the hands of white lives.

As a black man or African American man, however you may want to classify me, I’m first and foremost a man.

A man who’s dedicated to establishing a life for my family and myself. I’ve experienced social injustice and racism here in the city of Orange and in Orange County.

I’m blessed from the standpoint I did not lose my life. I’m stating this to establish my standpoint and point of view.

Our area has not had protest that involves the burning of building and looting. However, this does not mean that we are immune to the elephant that’s in the room called the United States.

Racism is a learned behavior.

We can place a group of toddlers in a room and they will play well together. I’ve never known of a doctor using different operating procedures when operating on patients.

For those of us who profess to children of God, we’ve been called to be Salt and Light. The bible records “So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him. But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:6-7 NKJV)

God looks at the heart which is truly the very essence of who we are.

Again, racism is a learned behavior.

None of us living today was born as in slavery or slave owner. So, to treat people as less than comes from those who are distorted and have a distorted mindset.

Let’s take the time while we have peace in our community to get to know each other.

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. No one else needs to lose a life or take a life. All lives matter equally. Let’s stand together in our community to save our community.

We must be the change to be a change that’s making a change.

 

Demetrius Moffett is Senior Pastor of Orange Church of God-Embassy of Grace, 1911 North 16th Street in Orange.