thinking thursday : racism edition
There is an epidemic in the U.S.
It’s called racism.
And it results in lower graduation rates, greater poverty, less access to medical care, greater mortality rates for diseases that are treatable, lower salaries, death, and much more.
The killings of two black men this week – Alton Sterling and Philando Castile – were the result of racism, whether conscious or unconscious; it doesn’t really matter because they are now dead for no reason.
A white, wealthy Stanford swimmer rapes an unconscious woman and gets 6 months in jail. A black man who works in a school cafeteria is stopped for a broken tail light and is shot dead. This happens.
Please don’t just say you will pray over this. Please don’t extend condolences to your black friends. Do something about it. Get out in the streets.
Last summer when the Charleston massacre took place, I needed to do something other than be incensed, so I created an online class called “Hard Conversations: An Introduction to Racism” which has enrolled over 3500 people so far, and is still continuing. It is changing lives. But it isn’t enough.
There is a Facebook group for the course here, where a lot of resources are shared. Join us. But that’s not enough either. Don’t turn into a click-to-support activist.
Below are some curated resources for you to read. Take note of the specific actions you will take on behalf of all the black men and women who have been murdered by police officers, and all the mothers and fathers of young black adults who fear for their lives, and with good reason. And post the actions you will take in my friend Tracy Brown’s Facebook group, What is Mine to Do? Hold yourself accountable to this action.
We cannot allow this to continue. Do something. Anything. Share this post. Read the articles. And do something. In an epidemic, swift action is called for. Learning about being an effective ally is important. Learning to be an effective activist is also important. See the resources below as a place to start.
Six Ways White People Can Help End the War on Black People Advice for White Folks in the Wake of a Police Murder of a Black Person Join Campaign Zero to End Police Violence What You Can Do Right Now About Police Brutality Concrete Ways to Be an Actual Ally to Black PeopleThere are many, many other resources on how to help end this epidemic. Seek them out. But don’t just study this issue. Do something about it. There are plenty of ideas to choose from the articles above. If you are complacent about racism, then it’s because you don’t have to think about it daily. That’s what white privilege is.
