Hey, have you heard the one about 2 white boys and a ni****?

Proceeds to tell the joke. Then sheepishly looks over at me,

“oh, I’m sorry, Nikki,” or

Hey, I can’t get these lights to work, I say we just ni*** rig it.

“Oh, sorry, Nikki.”

Should my offense be at the joke or the apology? Or should I be offended at all? Strong Christians don’t get offended! And an apology makes it ok, right?I mean, what kind of person doesn’t accept an apology?

And after all, it was just a joke! You’re too sensitive.
Can’t you take a joke?

I know it may be hard to believe, but I would never have even thought these comments to be considered racist until a few months ago.
Because this was how I was raised. These comments came from church people, friends, and loved ones who I know for a fact would never have done anything to purposely hurt me.
We are in the Deep South.
It was a different time back then….. I could go on and on with the excuses.

But now, here we are. 2020 Need I say more.

Racism sucks your self-worth!
Recently, By talking to friends and seeing the actual pain and anger from racism and injustice, something began to stir inside me. Something deep down that I had to keep smothered for survival. Something I never even realized was there. I always felt like this wasn’t my fight. One of the hard things about being multi-racial; is knowing what “team” you’re on. Knowing who’s got your back or who’s fighting with you or for you. This can be incredibly confusing when all the faces closest to you don’t look like you.

Racism sucks your clarity!
Where do I stand? Who am I?
I had an adorable blonde-haired boy tell me one time that he thought I was pretty and he wanted to be my boyfriend. But first, he needed to know what I “was.”
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked that question. (there would be no more world hunger)
That question became a hole in my soul and left me in a real identity crisis.

Racism sucks your identity.
I could give you story after story of the things I’ve endured that have left scars on my soul. As I’m sure, many of you can as well. But that’s not what I want you to take away. Maybe that will come later in my novel. (Haha)

But for now, I want you to know that it is only through Christ that I have overcome, and I am continuing to overcome this crisis of identity.
You will only find yourself, your true identity, in Christ, your maker!

I was His excellent idea!
He shaped me, formed me, and made me like I am on purpose and for a purpose.

Jeremiah 1:5(a) – I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.

Jeremiah 29:11- I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 139:13-18
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Racism has sucked some things from me, but God restores and gives back more than what was stolen.
This is where I put my hope and find my identity!

“We will overcome what divides us by the power of the cross.”

I wanna hear from you…. comment and tell me what has racism “sucked” from you?

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