We're All Colored People

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world,

Red & yellow, black & wile they are precious in his sight,

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

For the past several weeks it has been impossible to watch TV, read blogs or see the news without seeing or hearing the word "race." For the most part this discussion has been centered around the color of people's skin and the differences in cultures. We are each unique and different- this is true. But it seems we are still allowing skin color and nationalities to divide and separate us. As a historian it seems to me that one thing is clear- we have not learned from the past. We have been here many times before. There is no question that racism exists. The question is does it exist in me? If we fear a young man on the street because he is black, or trust a man in a suit because he is white, then our hearts are dealing with racism. As I have tried to sort out my own thoughts on this renewed discussion of how we are different, this song - now 20 years old- has been running through my  mind. The great Christian band dc Talk reminds us that while we have differences, we share two great similarities. We are children of God. And we all sin. Thus we are all Colored People - and we all "depend on a Holy Grace." I pray that this song and this wonderfully well-made video will inspire you to examine your heart. The lyrics are also included so there will be no misunderstanding the message of the song. Jesus calls us to be one people, one family- the Samaritans, the Jews and the Greeks all living as one. That is the City on the Hill, the true vision of the family of God. And as Toby Mac (one of the writers of this song) sang 10 years later in his hit Diverse City, "we will never be that shining City on a Hill until we truly become a Diverse City." Indeed, diversity is God's design. In the Creator's eyes there is only one race- the human race. And God ought to know- he painted us all! Be blessed, my friends!

Pardon me, your epidermis is showing, sir
I couldn't help but note your shade of melanin
I tip my hat to the colorful arrangement
Cause I see the beauty in the tones of our skin

We've gotta come together
And thank the Maker of us all

We're colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
We've got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a Holy Grace


A piece of canvas is only the beginning for
It takes on character with every loving stroke
This thing of beauty is the passion of an Artist's heart
By God's design, we are a skin kaleidoscope

We've gotta come together,
Aren't we all human after all?

We're colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
We've got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a Holy Grace

Ignorance has wronged some races
And vengeance is the Lord's
If we aspire to share this space
Repentance is the cure


Well, just a day in the shoes of a color blind man
Should make it easy for you to see
That these diverse tones do more than cover our bones
As a part of our anatomy

We're colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We're colored people, and they call us the human race
We've got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a Holy Grace

We're colored people, and they call us the human race
(Oh, colored people)
We're colored people, and we all gotta share this space
(Yeah we've got to come together somehow)
We're colored people, and we live in a tainted world
(Red and yellow, black and white)
We're colored people, every man, woman, boy, and girl
(Colored people, colored people, colored people, colored people, yeah)

Because of Jesus,