Christian rapper KB, whose real name is Kevin Elijah Burgess, is stressing the importance of racial reconciliation in America. However, KB says the church must take the first step in making this happen.
KB says there are two steps to true racial reconciliation. "One is confession. There is no repentance without confession. I think there needs to be a particular emphasis on the reality that the Church is as segregated as it has always been," the 28-year-old native of St. Petersburg, Florida tells The Christian Post.
The issue of race has changed significantly over the years, and there are no more physical signs forbidding certain races from entering certain places. However, KB says "if we're honest and will weep over the statistics, the events [happening in society] are largely monolithic in terms of ethnicity, and the same things apply to the Church."
Race relation is a two-way street, KB points out, adding that his own church has to change how they view the issue of race in America.
"We need to look at our all black church and we need to say, 'that's a problem.' And I would encourage my white brothers and sisters, as gently as I can very straightforward, that we need to look at our all-white church, our all-white industry or all-white festival or whatever it is and say: 'This is not what God wanted,'" he says.
Once people acknowledge that there's something wrong with all-black and all-white groups, KB says people will finally take a step towards positive change.
"And if we can arrive to that and say that this is an issue, because it is an issue to God, heaven is not going to be a place that has a north and south side. It is our responsibility to do whatever it takes to reflect the Kingdom of God on Earth. So let's go after it, and when that happens, we'll see some things change," he says.
