WHEN WE WERE COLORED

   After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying Moses My servant is dead, Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving them...the children of Israel. (Joshua 1:1,2)

Some of us remember when we were called Colored People.  It was perhaps a polite way of referring to us when we consider some of the other names that were used before the 60's.  Of course the word "Negro" was acceptable at that time, but few people were using the term "Black" or "Afro American." 

In the Movie, "ONCE UPON A TIME WHEN WE WERE COLORED,"   a narrator tells the story of his childhood years in a tightly knit Afro-American community in the deep South under racial segregation.  I must admit, that even though I don't care to return to those days (Segregation), there was a "Unity" among Black people that seems to be less apparent today.  We seemed to care about each other more then, than we do now.  We were not as divided about those issues that were important to the betterment of our people. The Black Church was in the forefront of making sure that our children were trained properly and that our self esteem was worthy of protection.  Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and many others made great sacrifices in the cause of truth and justice.

In the passage above, Joshua, is given his orders by the Lord to continue the cause (toward the Promise Land) that Moses had devoted his life to.  In the spirit of Black History Month, it should be mentioned that JOSHUA was from the tribe of Ephraim, who were "DARK SKINNED PEOPLE."  He was born a slave, as his people suffered under Pharaoh.  Joshua was an    obedient and faithful servant to the Lord. He also gave his life serving God for the "Unity" and betterment of his people.

I am not saying that we should be called    "colored"any more, however I would like to see the "Unity" that we once had as a people.  Remember, we serve the same God now, Who we served then.  And we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us now, just as Christ strengthened us then.  So no matter what name we respond to, we should remember, "In God.... United we stand.   But without God.... Divided we fall."