I am often struck by the limited amount of words that I am able to choose from when placed within a story that involves race.  There are certain characters that I cannot be because of race, settings and time periods that I am excluded from, descriptions that I am not privy to because socially defined “black” people don’t behave or sound or live or think that way.  It seems that the story of race is a narrative of scarcity and there is not enough dialogue to go around. Everyone does not have a speaking role and it is not based on talent but upon the social costumes of race.

And not only is there a scarcity when it comes to words that I can say, persons that I can be (even if only imaginary) or places that I can go but there is also a scarcity of meaning.  When defined by race, it is as if the dictionary is replaced with a short list of socially approved purposes, goals and measures of significance.  Race does not tell us what makes life meaningful but what makes human beings meaningful and this is the trick.  All of humanity has meaning, purpose and significance because they are each a part of God’s grand narrative.  It is for this reason that no one can truly be silenced.  It is only when we suppose ourselves to be the narrator that this truth is lost.

There is enough identity for each of us.  We don’t have to fight over words or for descriptions. There is no hierarchy as to the meaning of our lives as they all serve God’s purpose. We are not limited to the caricatures of race or its rations.  God is One of abundant meaning, unable to be captured in a person, people group and certainly not a social color and thus, our meaning is abundant. Amen.