Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an absolutely brilliant man. His iconic life holds the most valuable key in American history. Freedom, he stood for! Freedom, he marched for! Equality, he sang as his actions sprung life into the diversity of acceptance. But what was freedom and equality in the brilliant mind of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

“Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children… I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

To him, freedom and equality meant unity amongst God’s children and judgment by character rather than the color of skin. To Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this war was about the color of skin. But things were also vastly worst in those days than they are today. However, because of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., American lives were forever changed and for the first time in American history, unity amongst all races began to form.

The lives of all American people were thankfully and beautifully changed. This gracious man stood for all lives to be united in harmony and grace by the will and power of God. Today, all Americans live, work and play together in one society. Yes, our nation still battles racism, but it comes from each living race in our nation. However, racism today is no longer about the color of our skin. Unfortunately, racism is stereotypical in today’s society.

We are all too quick to judge a book by its cover, and then group many different genres into a solitary category. This is where society has failed miserably. This is where we have systematically forgotten that no two people are the same, so why treat a person accordingly with someone who carries similar traits?

Sure, we have few who see life as a rainbow, but all too many still group people to a single stereotype. This is done in every race and, unfortunately, overpowers the mindset that instead of living in groups we can live as one.

Is it because we are all too consumed in our minds with our own selves and forget that every life around us and distant from us is not the same in any aspect? You ever think of how someone else thinks? While we may have similar thoughts, no two people think exactly alike. Even conjoined twins have their own thoughts! The same with our outward appearance, there is not a single person in the world who is made the slightest bit just like you.

“Everybody’s born to be different, that’s the one thing that makes us the same.” Meagan Trainor, "Close Your Eyes"

So, if we are all born to be different then why must we all categorize ourselves and others in a group with a stereotype?

This country will never find peace until we stop seeing individuals as a “race.” The hate will continue, the war will rage on until we stop categorizing by first impression or by the glimpse of an appearance.

Why should we judge our own selves based on skin? For it’s the beat of our hearts that wake us up each day, not our skin. It is our mind and soul that cause and teach us to think the way we do, not our skin. Our skin is only part of what makes us unique? Ever notice that no matter the color of skin, no two shades are the same?

I challenge America to look at people as individuals. Be optimistic and open minded. Let loose and allow yourself to explore what makes each person you meet unique. It is when we take the time to learn who someone is when we have the opportunity to respect that person. Respect is the beginning of love, how can you respect and love someone you know nothing about? The same is true with judgment.

I agree wholeheartedly with one statement the President has made through all of this: “We are better than this.”

We are all better than we what we credit ourselves for. We are holding ourselves back from becoming the best individual we can by thinking we are only a skin color. Instead of color, let us embrace and stand proud of the heritage God blessed every single one of us to represent.

Let’s end police brutality by showing the world we aren’t a color, we are an individual, fearfully and wonderfully made.

Let’s end racism by no longer pegging ourselves to a race, but rather a beautiful and prosperous life.

Let’s change the way we see the world. Let’s change the way the world sees life. Let’s change the world together through eyes of clarity.

Let our unity begin with prayer for one another!