ONE Critical Race

Since my blog of two weeks ago, I have continued to revisit the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his powerful message calling for Americans to see each other in a different way - not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Dr. King had a vision for America, one inspired by its founders, that we as a people could move beyond ethnicity, skin color, creed, and truly become ONE America...one nation under God, united and undivided.

Dr. King was a leader's leader who understood and embraced intentional living. He shepherded a movement to return a nation to the ideals of its forefathers who dreamed of a "more perfect union" and through his efforts (and others like him throughout history), America continues to move closer to that ideal. Dr. King used his leadership, and his influence, to help usher in a new chapter in improved race relations in our nation even as he sought to move the conversation beyond identity politics to truly valuing people.

Dr. King wisely said, "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." He rightly understood that a nation divided cannot stand, and that we are stronger together than we are when we're at odds with one another. Dr. King envisioned a day when America would stop seeing a contest between colors, races, and creeds - and he unashamedly preached that he longed for the day when Americans would realize they are ONE CRITICAL RACE, the HUMAN RACE, created in the image and likeness of God,

MLK also understood (and eloquently stated) that "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." Dr. King understood that love, by definition, is a commitment to another person's welfare and well-being. It is through love, he taught, that revenge, aggression, retaliation, and all human conflict could be rejected and defeated. Love seeks no wrong of another, it does no violence, no harm.

In Dr. King's mind, there was only ONE CRITICAL RACE, the human race.

This is the powerful leadership principle of inclusion. An understanding that ALL lives matter. All lives are important, essential, and are valuable. That no race, color, creed, sex, or ethnicity is better than, or worse than, any other. That all lives deserve to be honored, respected, and treated with dignity.

I am a student of history. I love meeting people who come from a different culture or country, who share a different life experience. It is through learning about their past, their history, their struggles and triumphs, and the lessons it has taught them, that I gain a greater appreciation for them, their cultural heritage, and the challenges they have overcome both individually and corporately as a people group. Through this, I've learned to appreciate the incredible diversity of our global community's life experience.

My view of the world is expanded and my thinking is stretched (and often challenged) as I learn to value the wisdom and insights of those who grew up differently than I. When I can add their experience to my own, I gain greater understanding, empathy, and compassion for others - and more aware of the challenges we face around the globe.

My great-grandmother was a Native American (Cherokee) who married the son of an English immigrant. My wife is from Central America, so my children all share a rich, multi-cultural heritage. I have 3 beautiful, amazing grandchildren who also share a Central American and African-American heritage. We're about as cosmopolitan a family as it comes. Yet despite our cultural, ethnic, and racial distinctions, we are all ONE family, part of one critical race, the human race...made, as Dr. King reminded us, in the image of God.

It's why I appreciate what Dr. King lived for, and died for. The opportunity for my kids, and my grandkids, each with a different cultural heritage and history, to realize their character (the values they embrace and live out) matters more than their skin color. Their potential is not defined, nor limited, by their lineage, race, or creed, but by the way they lead themselves, the choices they make, and the values they choose to embrace and live out.

Like my mentor, John Maxwell, I am "leadership sad" when I look at the state of leadership in America, and around the globe. Real leadership is woefully lacking. No one has yet to truly pick up the mantle of Martin Luther King, Jr. to continue to be a truly unifying voice in this nation. There are far too many voices seeking to once again divide us by racial, ethnic, or cultural lines rather than unite us, encourage us, and inspire us to cultivate and release the greatness within each of us.

MLK understood the Power of Potential. He saw the potential greatness within each and every life, waiting to be discovered, developed, and deployed for good. He wanted to move people from a limiting mindset of victimhood to a limitless mindset of endless opportunity.

It's still there. I've seen it in big cities, small towns, and rural communities across this great land. There is so MUCH potential in the people who live in this great nation.

Sadly, this potential remains for the most part untapped, under-developed, and under-deployed. In some circles, it is intentionally discouraged or denied by those who hold to their biases and refuse to embrace the unity message Dr. King preached and modeled.

There are those who prefer to continually revisit and reopen the wounds of the past in an effort to manipulate the emotions and thinking of others for their own philosophical, political or financial gain rather than allow people to choose love and forgiveness over anger and hate and come together as ONE CRITICAL RACE to improve things for the better.

Those who act in this manner rightly fear their power and control will be in some way diminished if people in their communities discover and develop their gifts, talent, and ability and go on to live extraordinary lives of selfless accomplishment. MLK rightly understood when people learn to lead themselves well, and make good choices, endless opportunity reveals itself and paves the way for people to prosper, experiencing success and significance.

Dr. King said "that old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everyone blind. The time is always right to do the right thing." He added that violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical or immoral and violence never brings permanent peace. Violence divides, it destroys, it never truly unifies as it pits people against each other. Honoring, respecting, and valuing other human beings is ALWAYS the right thing to do.

We desperately need values-focused, people-centric, servant-hearted leaders who love people, want the best for them, and will equip, encourage, and inspire others to lead. We need to replace limited, scarcity thinking by empowering others to lead themselves well, make good choices, and see the endless opportunities that are before them.

When we choose to see ourselves as ONE CRITICAL RACE, the Human Race, the way we treat others begins to change. We stop judging people by the color of their skin, or their racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, or political backgrounds, but by the content of their character and the values they embrace and live out.

It is only then that we can truly see the POTENTIAL in each other, and truly come together to solve the problems that we ALL face as a global community. Around the world, children go to bed hungry or lack access to clean water. Millions still live in poverty. Women and children are trafficked. People groups are still persecuted and enslaved. Illicit drugs destroy lives. Crime runs rampant in many of our cities around the globe.

One of Dr. King's dreams was that "one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood." This cannot happen if America returns to learn the lessons of the past and once again embraces the divisiveness of identity politics - that the color of one's skin, their ethnicity, creed, or gender, matter more than one's character and values.

MLK knew from Scripture that erasing history also erases the lessons learned. One of the greatest mistakes a nation can do is to forget the lessons learned from the past, for by doing so they are destined to repeat them. When a nation fails to both acknowledge and celebrate the progress it has made in the area of human rights, it ignores the insight and the sacrifice of those who made that progress possible.

When we judge the people of the past, who lived in a different time in history, by the standards of today, we wrongly re-write history and fail to appreciate where we've come from and how we've matured as a nation and embraced cultural change over time. America, like every other nation, has its flaws...but we have continued to learn, to grow, to improve, to get better.

There is more freedom in America, more opportunity in America, than anywhere else in the world. It's why millions of immigrants seek to come to the shores of our land to make a better life for themselves and their families. We've made great strides toward seeing the fulfillment of Dr. King's vision for America, and as we come together as ONE CRITICAL RACE, the Human Race, we can continue to improve things for the better.

Dr. King believed in the pursuit of a "more perfect union", a dream shared and pursued by our forefathers. As they (and those who followed) pursued this dream, what was acceptable behavior changed over time. Slavery was abolished. Child labor laws were established. Women were granted the right to vote. Equal rights laws were enacted. As we've learned to listen to each other, to learn from each other, we as a nation move ever closer to that "more perfect union" our forefathers, imperfect as they were, envisioned.

I close with another quote from Dr. King that echoes his clarion cry that we embrace the notion we are ALL part of ONE CRITICAL RACE, the Human race, "Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him."

Remember, Dr. King said that LOVE is at the center of nonviolence. LOVE lived out is the commitment to another's welfare and well-being. It is lived out through forgiveness, letting go of the past, and looking forward to the future. It is learning to lead ourselves well, and make good choices, as we become men and women of impeccable character.

As Dr. King so eloquently put it in his sermons, if God so loved the world, we should too.

ALL lives matter. All lives are important, essential, and are valuable. No race, color, creed, sex, or ethnicity is better than, or worse than, any other. All lives deserve to be honored, respected, and treated with dignity.

Let us, as ONE CRITICAL RACE, the Human Race, choose to be better, not bitter. Our potential is not defined, nor limited, by our lineage, race, or creed, but by the way we lead ourselves, the choices we make, and the values we choose to embrace and live out.

Let us be people of value, who value people. Let us walk in love and embrace forgiveness.

It's only then that we can truly become the embodiment of what our founding fathers dreamed of, and those like Dr. King who followed after them embraced and passionately pursued, a "more perfect union" where men and women, young and old, would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL! This is a lofty goal, and a pursuit worth pursuing. We walk in love and forgiveness. We believe the best for each other, we hope the best for each other, and we work together for the mutual benefit of each other.

This happens when we choose to lead ourselves well, make good choices, embrace good values, and live them out. We become people of value who add value to others.

This is how we change our nation, and the world, for the better.

Who will join me in this quest?

One Critical Race, the Human Race.

Humanity Matters!

2X martial arts Hall of Fame inductee, John Terry (The Black Belt Leader) is passionate about helping others become Black Belt Leaders in Life. He is a motivational speaker, leadership, sales & communication coach, and trainer.  For more information, to purchase John's books or training content, or to schedule John to speak to your organization or to schedule training or coaching, visit www.beablackbeltleader.com.  

If you are a faith-based organization, learn more about John's international outreach to churches, para-church organizations, or faith-based volunteer groups by visiting www.DunamisFactor.com.