There is something wrong with reducing black life down to comparative terms that perpetuate a narrative of white affluence and black victimization. These two opposing views have collided in the recent public framing of black life in America as downtrodden, destitute, and hopeless--and they speciously encourage double consciousness.

Conviction is not just how well we can write our theological creed, but how well we live out a reflection of the Triune God in all areas of life. This is our call as the church today.

It has often been remarked that American history has undergone a vigorous “whitewashing,” whereby contributions of minorities (namely black people) have largely been overlooked or flat out disregarded.

Douglass' words remind us that for some Americans, independence ends with an asterisk.