Reflections on Racial and Religious Prejudice
Racial and religious bigotry must be confronted for what it truly is: a betrayal of humanity’s highest ideals. It is not merely a social ill or a moral failing; it is a fundamental blasphemy against the sacred nature of human dignity. Just as satanism symbolizes rebellion against the divine, bigotry undermines the very sanctity of life and the interconnectedness that binds all people together. In a world where the redeeming quality of humanity lies in its ability to recognize its shared kinship, bigotry acts as a corrosive force, severing the bonds that unify us.
And yet, the poison of prejudice persists. It inflames the vision, distorting perception so that we see the broad generalities of race rather than the individual, irreplaceable uniqueness of the human face. Pigmentation—a mere biological accident—becomes a definitive measure, overshadowing the infinite complexity and beauty that define a person. This blindness, this inability to see beyond the surface, relegates entire groups of people to the status of strangers.
For many, the black man remains an enigma, a stranger not because of any inherent difference but because of a willful refusal to see his humanity. In our society, there are those whose moral sensitivity falters when faced with the struggles and injustices endured by people of color. Their hearts remain unmoved, their consciences untroubled, and their indifference becomes a tacit endorsement of injustice.
The cruelty of bigotry is not always physical. Beyond economic deprivation or physical injury lies a more insidious pain: the pain of public humiliation. To strip a person of their dignity, to rob them of their sense of worth in the eyes of others, is to inflict a wound that cuts deeper than any material loss. For those whose skin happens not to be dark, there is a burden to bear—a haunting self-awareness that one’s very presence, one’s very face, can symbolize arrogance and overbearance in the eyes of others.
This is not always an intentional offense. It is often an unintended consequence of a history that has shaped perceptions and assumptions. Yet, the result is the same: a face that should radiate the likeness of God becomes, instead, a symbol of superiority. It is a tragedy for all involved, for mutual respect and understanding are tainted by the residue of historical injustice.
Perhaps the most insidious evil of all is not active malice but indifference. Indifference to evil is a kind of complicity that allows injustice to flourish unchecked. It is more contagious than hatred, more enduring than prejudice, and more dangerous than open hostility. Indifference wraps itself in the guise of neutrality, but in truth, it is a silent collaborator with oppression. By refusing to take a stand, it permits the unacceptable to become the norm.
Evil does not thrive in isolation. It grows in the shadows, nourished by the apathy of those who look away. A single act of injustice can ripple outward, becoming a pervasive rule when met with passive acceptance. It is this indifference that strips humanity of its collective conscience, making the exceptional seem ordinary and the intolerable seem inevitable.
To combat bigotry and its accomplice, indifference, demands an unflinching examination of our own hearts and actions. It requires humility—a willingness to confront the ways in which we may, consciously or unconsciously, contribute to the suffering of others. It calls for courage—the courage to speak out against injustice, to stand with the oppressed, and to challenge the systems and beliefs that perpetuate division.
Above all, it requires love—a love that transcends boundaries, that sees beyond skin color, religion, or culture, and recognizes the divine spark within every human being. It is only through this love that we can hope to heal the wounds inflicted by prejudice and build a society rooted in true justice and compassion.
The antidote to the poison of bigotry lies within us all. It is found in the simple yet profound act of seeing—truly seeing—each person as they are: unique, valuable, and worthy of dignity. It is found in the decision to listen, to learn, and to act. In doing so, we honor not only the humanity of others but also the best within ourselves.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 