America has a wave of racism that is sweeping over the country. It was happening in small pockets, a small uproar that fades when there is something new to talk about. But recently, the spate of racism is brutal, vindictive and coming from a place of privilege and entitlement.
Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Christian Cooper and others in 2 weeks. All that happened is that white people thought back people should not be right where they were.
So instead of saying 'there are two sides to the story', 'I'm shocked', 'this is bad', here is a simple way to not be a racist: look beyond the skin color and see that it is just a person like you and me. If you can go for a jog one afternoon, so can another person. If I want to watch birds at 7am and I ask you to leash your dog that is disturbing the birds, someone else can do the same without a hysterical Karen call the cops with a fake story.
To not be a racist is not about pretending that skin color doesn't exist. That would end up erasing histories, countries, cultures and habits that make each person unique. To not be racist means acknowledging there is a different skin color, but also knowing that that skin color is simply a different lived experience. A different skin color shouldn't influence your actions, words and - this is even more difficult to control - your thoughts in a negative way.
You shouldn't think that because someone is black / brown / white that they are hysterical / conniving / dangerous. What you should think is 'someone is black/brown/white. So what? You are just as valued as me.'
Teach your kids that 'so what'. It doesn't matter what they look like. It's what that particular person says or does that's important.
Teach yourself to rethink your thoughts. The first thought is always the easiest to make and hardest to correct. If your first thought is judgmental and racist, think a second or third thought until you get it right.
Tell yourself that there is always something you can do to help someone who has to go through a lot more obstacles just because of something as common as a different skin color.
Teach people around you to not make assumptions based on the color of someone's skin. That a joke is not funny if it undermines someone based on the color of their skin. That assuming the worst of someone is a terrible thing to do to anyone. That narrow-mindedness is a negative trait akin to stupidity.
I firmly believe racists can overcome prejudice. They just need to stand up, pull their head out of the sand and truly see what each person in the world has to offer. And if they can't do that, the least they can do is mind their own business.
Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Christian Cooper and others in 2 weeks. All that happened is that white people thought back people should not be right where they were.
So instead of saying 'there are two sides to the story', 'I'm shocked', 'this is bad', here is a simple way to not be a racist: look beyond the skin color and see that it is just a person like you and me. If you can go for a jog one afternoon, so can another person. If I want to watch birds at 7am and I ask you to leash your dog that is disturbing the birds, someone else can do the same without a hysterical Karen call the cops with a fake story.
To not be a racist is not about pretending that skin color doesn't exist. That would end up erasing histories, countries, cultures and habits that make each person unique. To not be racist means acknowledging there is a different skin color, but also knowing that that skin color is simply a different lived experience. A different skin color shouldn't influence your actions, words and - this is even more difficult to control - your thoughts in a negative way.
You shouldn't think that because someone is black / brown / white that they are hysterical / conniving / dangerous. What you should think is 'someone is black/brown/white. So what? You are just as valued as me.'
Teach your kids that 'so what'. It doesn't matter what they look like. It's what that particular person says or does that's important.
Teach yourself to rethink your thoughts. The first thought is always the easiest to make and hardest to correct. If your first thought is judgmental and racist, think a second or third thought until you get it right.
Tell yourself that there is always something you can do to help someone who has to go through a lot more obstacles just because of something as common as a different skin color.
Teach people around you to not make assumptions based on the color of someone's skin. That a joke is not funny if it undermines someone based on the color of their skin. That assuming the worst of someone is a terrible thing to do to anyone. That narrow-mindedness is a negative trait akin to stupidity.
I firmly believe racists can overcome prejudice. They just need to stand up, pull their head out of the sand and truly see what each person in the world has to offer. And if they can't do that, the least they can do is mind their own business.
No comments:
Post a Comment