The national discourse on race has taken a back seat since the fever pitch of 2020, and so the church has largely toned down the discussion, too.
But, if recent history tells us anything, we’re right on time for an election year resurgence.
This time around, things are different. A lot of good-hearted people who got on board with the rhetoric in 2016 or 2020 because they want everyone to be treated fairly are seeing the fruits and thinking, “this isn’t what I signed up for.”
What fruits?
They’re seeing open racial division like the rise of the “Black National Anthem” at events as big as the Super Bowl, which is blatant, celebrated segregation.
They’re seeing the promotion of “black owned businesses” so people can give preferential patronage based on skin color.
They’re seeing quotes like this one from leading high school football recruit Jordan Seaton: “Why you not coming to Colorado? Why you not helping somebody who look like you?” referring to Deion Sanders, Colorado’s black coach.
And these good-hearted people are saying, “Wait a minute. I thought we were all agreed on promoting a society based on content of character rather than color of skin?” (Never mind that MLK Jr. himself advocated for race-based preferential treatment.)