Yesterday, I discussed Du Bois’ concept of double- consciousness, this sense of two- ness that is created in the life of one who defines herself or himself as an American Negro, a Black American, an African American or any identity that is a combination of both country and color.  The identities do not support one another and can be mutually exclusive as one can be an American and not be a Negro, black or African and vice versa.  One identity is not rooted in the other but instead calls for two people, two ways of being and existing.

It is race that divides humanity but it also divides us.  We all live a divided life; it is the mask that “grins and bears” as described by Paul Lawrence Dunbar in his poem “We Wear the Mask.”  It is in our speech, our double talk as we have a white way and a black way of speaking, evident in such phrases as “soundin’ white” or “that’s black for.”  Two and neither are in agreement with the other.  Two and one is always fighting against the other.  Two and one is always attempting to rid it’s self of the other.  We become two- sided and in turn, two- faced.  We begin to even talk negatively about ourselves in order to support the other side of us.

In this case, race creates two worlds, one black and the other white– both of which are imaginary; two ways of existing, neither of which are liberating; two identities– both of which are false.  But race extends itself a bit further as it also creates two heavens–one for “coloreds” and the other for “whites”; two hells– both now and later; two sins– skin and disobedience to God; two wills: the will of God and the will of the socially constructed white man and in turn, two goals: to live a life that glorifies God and becoming white or whiter. Loyalty to race and to God creates an unstable identity.

Today, I pray the words of Jesus found in John 17.21: “that (we) may all be one.” Amen.