Tag Page identity

I skipped Nehemiah 7. I didn’t think it mattered.

Nehemiah 7 repeats another list of families. It feels copied. Unnecessary. I almost moved on. But verse 5 reveals why it’s there. God put it in Nehemiah’s heart to gather the people by genealogy. Before rebuilding the city, God restored identity. Walls came later. Belonging came first. This chapter isn’t administrative filler. It’s a reminder: community is rebuilt by remembering who the people are. #BibleStudy #TheVerseYouSkipped #Nehemiah #Identity #Restoration #BibleInsight

Stateless in Paradise is not just a travel memoir. It is a deeply human story of what happens when freedom, identity, and borders collide. Written from the rare perspective of a person who traveled the world without a passport, the book reveals the invisible costs of movement, the fragility of belonging, and the unexpected kindness that makes survival possible. This is not a story of victimhood, but of resilience, love, and the courage to keep moving when the world refuses to claim you. #TravelNews #Immigration #Stateless #Airplane #Identity #Detention #Books #BorderScenes #trappedinlimbo #DeniedBoarding #PassportControl #RefugeeStruggles #ussr #sovietunion #TravelOutsider #Paradise #TravelWithoutFilter #TravelWithoutBorders #WorldTravelersDilemma #TravelingTheWorld #ApprehensionAndExcitement #Appreciation #Africa #AfricaTravel #AfricanWorldFestival #BookDiscussion #BookDeals #BooksToPrisoners #Bookstagram #BookAwards

December 21, 1988 marked a subtle but powerful shift in public language. Around this time, Jesse Jackson and other prominent Black leaders encouraged broader use of the term African American, signaling a move toward self-definition rooted in heritage rather than description alone. The push was not about erasing the word Black or ranking one label above another. It was about choice, context, and power. African American emphasized ancestry, history, and cultural lineage tied to the African diaspora, much like how other ethnic groups in the United States name themselves. For many advocates, it framed identity as part of a longer historical arc rather than a reaction to skin color assigned by others. Jackson argued that names matter because they shape how people see themselves and how they are treated. In the late 1980s, Black Americans were navigating increased visibility in politics, media, education, and global affairs. Language became part of that visibility. To name oneself was to assert agency. The shift did not happen overnight, nor was it universally accepted. Some embraced African American immediately. Others preferred Black and still do today. What mattered then, and what still matters now, is that the discussion centered on self-identification rather than labels imposed from the outside. December 21 stands as a reminder that history is shaped not only by laws and marches, but also by words. Sometimes progress is loud. Sometimes it is quiet. Sometimes it sounds like a name spoken clearly and claimed with intention. #africanamerican #blackhistory #jessejackson #december21 #identity This is a historical post shared because today is the date it occurred. Please read it as history, not as a personal stance or affiliation.

I often wonder when we will stop hating one another and begin choosing compassion. No matter our race, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation, we are all human beings. Before judging others, we should ask ourselves a simple question: How would I feel if I were treated the same way? What we are witnessing in the United States today is deeply troubling. This is painful because America is, at its core, a remarkable country—one built by immigrants. Its strength and prosperity come from people of different backgrounds who arrived here seeking safety, opportunity, and freedom, and who together built this nation. America’s history is young. This land belonged first to Native Americans. European settlers—many fleeing religious persecution—claimed it and formed new communities. Enslaved Africans were forcibly brought here and became central to the country’s foundation. Later, immigrants from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America added their cultures, labor, and ideas. There is no single “pure” American identity. America is defined by diversity, not sameness. Yet today, people are attacked because of their skin color, religion, nationality, or whom they love. This is not faith, and it is not patriotism. Hatred contradicts the values many claim to defend, including Christianity, which teaches compassion and love for one’s neighbor. Hate does not make a nation stronger—it weakens it. Leadership matters. When leaders use dehumanizing language or spread fear, it normalizes cruelty and division. History shows that such rhetoric leads to instability, not security. Immigration debates also demand honesty. People migrate for reasons—war, poverty, persecution, or survival. At the same time, many Americans choose to live abroad for affordability or opportunity. Empathy should not stop at borders. #Humanity #Immigration #Politics #America #AmericanHistory #HistoryMatters #Compassion #Christianity #EuropeTravelTips #Migration #LoveNotHate #Karma #Identity

The Psychology of Playing the Victim While Holding the Power Every time one of these lists pops up pretending that white people “don’t have anything,” it follows the same psychological pattern. It is not confusion. It is selective memory performed like a script. These posts flip the story by turning the dominant group into the victim and hoping nobody notices how upside down it is. Psychologists call it zero sum thinking. If someone else gains visibility or protection, they believe something is being taken from them. That fear grows into resentment, and resentment grows into memes like this. They claim white people lack an anthem or institutions while living in a country where those things have always centered them. They know the truth. The discomfort comes from admitting it. Calling others “victims” is projection. When people feel their comfort slipping, they accuse everyone else of whining so they never have to confront the real issue. And when you counter their argument with context, they suddenly flip again. Now you are the racist. Now you are the one causing division. Not the person who posted a list designed to stir conflict. Not the meme built to bait an argument. The blame shifts instantly because it protects their illusion. This is the psychology. These posts are not about facts. They are about maintaining the feeling of innocence while ignoring the reality in front of them. That is why the tone changes the moment you introduce history. You did not insult them. You interrupted the story they tell themselves. #Psychology #OnlineBehavior #HumanBehavior #Identity #CommunityTalk

When your name isn’t really yours

Losing your last name can feel like losing a piece of yourself. One teen shared how his family forced him to take his stepdad’s name after his dad passed away, even though he never wanted it. Years later, he finally reclaimed his original name at 18, despite his mom calling it a betrayal. The story hit a nerve online, with many saying kids should have a say in big decisions about their identity. Have you ever felt pressured to accept something that didn’t feel right? How much say should kids have in family changes like this? #Relationships #FamilyDynamics #Identity