One Color Town

I live in a one color town.

A town where someone felt safe (and weird) enough to decorate his truck window with a huge custom decal that said “White Lives Matter”.

So when I see a black person in this town, I always wonder, and worry, how it is for them to live here.

There is one black person in my morning fitness class. The only black person I’ve been in a room with here (except for the MLK worship service I attended in January).

And I realized I was wearing this shirt.

Oh my gosh, will he think I’m MAGA?

There was already a man in the class talking about putting up a portrait of Trump in his home.

I follow a black woman on social media who talks about what clues that you are MAGA presenting and what are clues that she would feel safe with you.

So I think about the clues I give a lot.

I want to be seen as safe, of course.

And then I got a little mad.

This shirt was a gift from a friend so I think of her when I wear it. She is also an exercise role model so I wear it as motivation.

Most importantly though, MAGA does not own the cross. MAGA does not own my faith. And though this is literally the only camouflage I have ever or will ever own, they don’t own it either.

Christians who are progressive like me need to be representatives of our faith. Unafraid to display it, talk about while also showing up in the world with the exact opposite actions and attitudes of the White Nationalist movement of MAGA.