Are You Embracing Diversity?

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9 ESV)

Have you ever felt convicted to share something you’ve learned, knowing it may ruffle some feathers? A few weeks ago, one of my favorite homeschooling accounts on Instagram shared a quote from author Morgan Jerkins. The image declared, “You’re not well-read if all you read is white authors.” The caption called for followers to share their favorite books written by people of color.

I immediately tapped the heart icon beneath the square and shared a few favorite titles. Diversifying my bookshelf is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and was my first step in embracing diversity in all aspects of my life. While I and some others praised the post, a significant amount of pushback played out in the comments section.

Many commenters stated that they take no account of an author’s race or ethnicity when choosing a book. Others voiced anger at even bringing the color of the author into the reading equation. Some celebrated the post, citing the importance of representation. In the end, two hundred and eighty comments shared as many opinions as recommendations.

At one time, I would have been a voice among the commenters defending a colorblind library. I am a voracious reader and have been since childhood. It wasn’t until college that I realized the vast majority of books on my shelves were incredibly homogeneous.

During my sophomore year, I enrolled in a course focused on literature by people of color who lived in former British colonies. In that class, I was exposed to great works by Chinua Achebe, Arundhati Roy, and Jamaica Kincaid. Up to that point, I would have considered myself well-read due to the volume of books I had consumed. That class opened my eyes and mind to the range of stories and experiences I was missing out on due to a lack of cultural diversity in my library.

The problem with a colorblind approach, whether in literature or life, is that we risk silencing needed voices. We miss the lessons they have to teach us. When we say we don’t see color, we are saying we don’t see the unique way a person was made and the perspective they bring as a result of their culture. I would never want the bookshelves in my home to be filled only with the words of men, leaving out women’s perspectives, stories, and talents. The same should be true of authors who look different from me.

As Christians, we should be celebrating and embracing diversity. Creation points to God’s diverse design. There are over 15,000 known varieties of tomatoes alone. God chose to include all people in his kingdom, beginning with the nation of Israel and spreading to all nations through Christ. Each person on this earth is made and adored by God.

Unfortunately, we have not always stewarded God’s diverse design well. White Christians abused the Word of God to justify enslaving African people, forcing First Nations people from their lands, and perpetuating racial violence. We have ignored the cries of our fellow image-bearers. Lord, have mercy on us.

We can’t undo the past. We can make a concerted effort to recognize the harm done, repent, and move forward with a spirit willing to learn. I’ve been working towards becoming more racially conscious for over a decade and still consider myself a beginner. I don’t have the answers, but I do want to share a few lessons that have impacted my journey.

Take Inventory

Greater understanding starts with awareness. Examine your bookshelves, your friendships, your media, and your faith communities. Take note of the areas where diversity is lacking and pray for wisdom in taking steps to make changes.

Be Intentional

To expand your exposure to diverse voices, you must be intentional. Books are an excellent way to educate ourselves and a first step to be intentional about embracing diversity. When you are ready to go beyond books, look for ways to learn from and with people of other races and cultures in your community. Be the Bridge is a fantastic organization working through churches to “empower people and culture towards racial healing, equity, and reconciliation.”

Be Willing to Fail

My heart aches at this truth: my privilege has, at times, blinded me to the cries of my brothers and sisters merely asking to be seen and heard. I have failed many times, and I am certain I will speak out of ignorance or expose a blind spot in the future. I have grace for myself but strive to be more compassionate each day. The only way forward is to listen, learn in humility, and stay in the arena. Our failures provide opportunities for growth and grace.

Embracing diversity sanctifies us. When I think of the impact diversity can have on our lives, I can’t help but think of Jesus on the cross. There he hung, a victimized man from an oppressed community, slowly dying an excruciating death at the hand of his Roman oppressors. And yet we know that the story of the poor Jewish carpenter-turned-rabbi changed history. The story of Jesus’ resurrection soon united Romans, Greeks, Jews, Ethiopians, Samaritans, and continues to tie us into the diverse community of believers to this day. Proximity with those who are different from us has life-changing power.

God desires unity for his diverse church. The first step toward wholeness is ensuring everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. Let’s make space for all.

Lindsay Hufford is a small-scale farmer, home educator, chicken chaser, kitchen dancer, and mediocre knitter. Her favorite things include spending time with her family, exploring the natural world, reading, eating spicy food, and singing loudly in the car (to the embarrassment of her children). Lindsay believes sharing our stories will change the world. She writes about farming, homeschooling, faith, mental health, sobriety, and living an unconventional life. You can follow her adventures at peckandpetalfarm.com.