Jackson and Reddy didn’t plan to become famous — just trick their teacher. Best buddies, these two little fellows had different haircuts. Using simple boy logic, they figured that identical haircuts would make it impossible for their teacher to tell them apart.
So Jackson sat in the barber’s chair. Giggles. Fidgeting. Laughter all around. When finished, the two boys had identical haircuts. Little Jackson — white — and his friend Reddy — black — were convinced they could trick their teacher now!
My best friend in first and second grade was Kendall Guy. We learned and played together. I went to his birthday party. Our dads, both pastors, would swap pulpits occasionally. But you see, we lived in New Haven, CT in the 1960s. My dad’s church and our little school were right around the corner from Yale University — a hot bed for racial, social and political activism. I can’t speak for Kendall, but this little white boy didn’t know there was a problem with having a black friend. We became the pawns for black-white tension in our Christian school.
Years later my wife and I were traveling from Kansas City to Washington, D.C. with our daughter, Jamie. While waiting for our flight, Jamie met another toddler and delighted in holding hands and tottering around the airport. Upon landing in DC, Jamie and her new friend met again, joined hands, and continued playing. The interest in their young friendship was heightened at both airports by the fact that Jamie’s new friend was black.
I hear a children’s song playing in my head . . . “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in His sight . . .” Google color-blindness and you’ll discover that this beloved children’s song is no longer politically correct. You see, to some, color-blindness is the new racism.
Race is back with avengeance. Terms like race card, BLM, and alt-right splash across the media. From coffee shops and water coolers to churches and even my alma mater — race is front and center. The issue is fumbled like a greased football. Others face it head-on with God-given grace.
Jesus was not afraid of man-made walls and divisions. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) “He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness . . .” (1 John 2:11) “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)
My prayer is that the same Savior that died for all races, creeds and nationalities will make me color-blind. But His selfless, undeserved love lays a responsibility at my feet. “He has shown you, O Man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) I must listen to understand the story and pain of others. I must stand for the right when wrong is done. I must ask for the eyes of Christ that look only at the heart.
Call me simple. I still think that Jackson and Reddy have it figured out. The psychologists, sociologists, politicians and pundits can talk and write ’til they’re blue in the face. Perhaps, just maybe, they and we simply need a haircut!