Colorblind.  Post- racial.  It seems that most of us can’t see it or say it. Or, we cannot un-see people and not say things without the paradigm of race.  It is what we know and how we’ve always known each other. We don’t want to rock the boat or as I would suggest, get of the boat, this outdated box, altogether.  Abandon ship!

Besides, there’s too much history, hurt and cases of police brutality pending.  So, the jury is still out or hung or has thrown out the case altogether.  There’s not enough evidence, not enough proof to change our convictions.  Court adjourned.

We don’t even want to talk about it.  The conversation is a foolish and unnecessary one.  Things are not going to change; our words won’t make a difference.  This is the way that we have always been.

So, we go back to race, return to our prejudices and stereotypes because it is what we know.  It’s safe here.  We know what to expect, no matter how unjust or imbalanced the treatment.  We know how to interact here, no matter how reduced the authenticity of our relationships.  We know how to live in this kind of society, no matter how much of reality is distorted by race.  We have resolved that things will not change so we make ourselves comfortable in this miserable state.

But, that’s not the end of the story: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” and race does not own the rights to our humanity (Galatians 3.27-28).  It confines and defines us with our permission.  Yes, we have right not to be described as socially colored black/ white/ red/ yellow/ brown/ beige people.

Get out the boat and walk on the water.  Review the case and make a judgment. Leave race behind and you’ll see what I’m saying.