“FIGHTING THE SAME FIGHT THAT WE STILL FIND OURSELVES FIGHTING TODAY"
As the events of the last 10 days have unfolded across our
country, I have been flooded with a wide range of emotions: disgust, anger, sadness, uncertainty, fear, inadequacy…just
to name a few. As a privileged, middle
age white male, I have not had to face so many of the issues of systemic racism
that my African American friends face daily.
I have not been fearful for my family to face unjust behavior, I have
not worried about my daughters being called racist names in their school and
community, and I have not had to try explain to them why some people don’t like
them because of the color of their skin….and the list goes on.
“LISTEN TO THEIR SOULS. LISTEN, AND TAKE A LESSON FROM THE DEAD”
Looking back
on growing up in a small, pre-dominantly white, very small, mid-western town…I can
say that I was fortunate enough to not have had to face racism. There were not a lot of black people in my
small community…but I do not remember looking at that fact through the lens of
racism.
Mark
Washington was our senior class president and we played high school football together,
to this day, he is one of the smartest and hard-working people I have ever
known. Derrek Holiday lived outside of town
near where we lived and I would ride to school and home from practice sometimes
with him in his orange, yes orange, car.
I remember that orange car fondly and I also remember his infectious
laugh and the fun times of dancing to and singing to Prince and Morris Day with
him (”everybody walk your body, everybody walk!”), but I digress…I also remember
sharing many classroom experiences and lots of laughter with Kim Williams and
Lisa Cathey, with whom I was friends from middle school through graduation.
In looking
back and reflecting, I did not look at them as different…they were just friends,
teammates, and classmates…but what was that like for them, to be black in a white
world. I am not sure I have ever thought
about this from that perspective until these last few days. I am sure they faced many challenges that I was
oblivious too.
Should I feel
bad about my obliviousness? Should I feel
remorse? Did they see it the way I saw
it? Or, should I celebrate the fact that
to me, it just was what it was back then? Friends, Teammates, and Classmates…These are
just a few of the thoughts running through my mind as I look back and
reflect.
“IF WE DON'T COME TOGETHER, WE TOO WILL BE DESTROYED. I DON'T CARE F YOU LIKE EACH OTHER, BUT YOU WILL RESPECT EACH OTHER."
What I have
realized and what I believe we all must recognize, is that we have so much left
to learn as Parents, Friends, Educators, Co-workers, and Leaders. Each of us must continue to work at listening
to each other, to become more aware of our individual biases, to allow
ourselves to continue to improve as individuals, communities, and a country.
WE must face
the challenge…not just our African American brothers and sisters, but ALL OF US,
especially those of us who live in a white privileged world. We are challenged to change our culture…We
are challenged to appreciate the diversity that has made us great…We are challenged
to be better today then we were yesterday and be better tomorrow then we are
today. George W Bush said it this way, “This
will require a consistent, courageous, and creative effort. We love our neighbors as ourselves when we
treat them as equals”
The challenge
is not comfortable...The challenge is
frustrating...The challenge is difficult.
But through uncomfortable, frustrating, and difficulty challenges,
there is almost always victory.
I pray for
that victory for all of us…
"AND MAYBE...I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE...WE WILL LEARN TO PLAY THE GAME LIKE MEN”
Thank you Mr. Kelly for sharing and being transparent. I wanted someone whom I know and admire to say something about ALL OF THIS so I could engage in dialogue with them. These past two weeks, I too have had a range of emotions—anger, sadness, bitterness, disgust, rage, helplessness.
ReplyDeleteI’ve talked with my prayer warriors, my family, my friends, and my Sorors to try and help to understand the gravity of all of THIS.
Growing up in a small predominantly white town in Alabama, I faced racism from the onset of elementary school. It wasn’t from everyone, but from the ones who wore racism like a crown and like a weapon, it pierced my mind and heart to the core. It left its imprint. Those experiences helped to shape my worldview. I learned to look at the world with different lenses. In Alabama, I lived in an all black neighborhood, behind the tracks. I attended school from elementary through high school on the white side of town. These two worlds hardly ever collided, so I learned how to be one way at home and another way at school. When I graduated from high school, I knew that I would never return to my hometown to live. I had no desire to. I’ve never attended a class reunion, a homecoming game, or parade. When I visit my hometown, I visit my family and one favorite shopping place. That’s it. If I happen to cross paths with old classmates or even teachers, I am happy to see them, but I never promise to visit because I know I won’t. Due to the racism I experienced as a young girl, the blatant and inconspicuous remarks and actions directly and indirectly, years ago, I chose to distance myself and move away to a place that would not remind me of home. Thank God, I found that place here. However, these last two weeks in Atlanta and throughout the nation, I have been reminded of those times but worst. I never wanted my daughter to live to witness this type of racism that spews anger, hatred, bitterness, viciousness, violence, and pure evilness. If everyone does not wake up and realize and believe this is America’s problem, we will be doomed for more turbulent times ahead. Enough is enough. The time to act is now. WE ALL must be part of the solution. WE know the problem. WE are protesting because of it. WE need to plan (continue planning and making progress) the next steps (i.e. create/change/amend laws, equitable healthcare, education, resources, etc.). WE must be in THIS together.
THIS has broken my spirit. God made all of us—the human race. So I have been meditating on this scripture 2 Chronicles 7:14—If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
So thank you again for sharing. Thank you for being the person you are. I thank you for this platform to share with you and those who subscribe to your blog. I respect you, and I appreciate you. I'll see you at the Horizon....soon enough.