Picture from Christlifemin.org
America, our great nation, was founded on the beliefs of freedom, liberty and equal opportunity for every man. Respect which is integral to the “American experience” should never be conditional. Yet for many Americans, especially Black Americans, respect seldom comes without strings attached. Some feel they are required to speak a certain way, dress a certain way, and act a certain way. Many of this could be framed as “professionalism,” there’s a deeper question underneath. Are we truly treating one another as equals, or are we quietly asking some people to assimilate in order to be deemed acceptable.
Viewing this from all perspectives, It’s easy to overlook how minute comments can sometimes begin to chip away at someone’s general sense of dignity. This can be done by way of jokes about someone’s “proper” speech or comments like “you’re so articulate” it’s understandable that these may sound like compliments and more often than not are well meaning. But to the receiving party hearing them, they can come across as reminders that they’re seen as an exception, never the norm. These words, whether intentional or not, send the message that presenting as truly and authentically oneself isn’t quite good enough. We are reminded by congressmen Mike Johnson in his article about the 7 core principles of conservatism that our country was founded on the freedoms of equality, as Johnson states “ In America, we proclaim the self-evident truths that all of us are created equal and granted by God the same inherent freedoms, such as the natural and unalienable rights to life, liberty, conscience-“ further bolstering the point that this respect, this consideration is the very basis of the foundation of our America.
Many Black Americans feel pressure to take time to alter how they speak, dress, and or carry themselves in order to feel they are being taken seriously. This goes beyond just fitting in. It’s about being allowed a fair and equal shot in spaces such as classrooms, offices, and boardrooms. As congressman Mike Johnson states “- all men are created equal and in the image of God, every human life has inestimable dignity and value, and every person should be measured only by the content of their character” supporting the idea that race, and presentation of oneself as other than who they are or being asked to show up inauthentically and made to alter your person is wrong. Some will dismiss this as being overly sensitive, but if we turn to scripture we’ll see it teaches us otherwise. Proverbs 18:21 gently reminds us, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” further proving that our words matter. They either uplift or they tear down and the choice between the two is ours.
The principle here isn’t political. Rather it’s moral. This is about human decency. It’s about treating others the way we would want to be treated, just as Jesus taught in Matthew 7:12: “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” That applies not just to not only how we conduct ourselves, but to how we speak and how we listen.
Picture from Outreachmagazine.com
A topic that is frequently discussed here in America is free speech, and rightly so. But in a society that is truly free, speech should also be of reason. What this does not mean is to allow for the censorship of people in any way shape or form. Simply put it means allowing for the encouragement of people to speak and do so with purpose, care, and respect that all individuals are intrinsically worthy of. Ephesians 4:29 says it plainly: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.” This is a standard set biblically that we as people should all strive for.
This is by no means an effort to call anyone out. Rather it’s about calling each other in, and doing so with the belief of a higher standard of mutual respect and shared humanity. The more we ignore how others feel in the name of building their resilience the more we risk turning our backs on the very values we as a country claim to uphold: fairness, personal integrity, and Christian love for all mankind.
As opposed to requesting others alter themselves to a smaller less truthful version of who they are, let us as people be the kind of individuals who hold space for everyone to not only be seen but to be heard, and respected as well. This is not just a hallmark of good manners. This is the American way. And more importantly, it’s the Christian one.
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