Image by UnratedStudio from Pixabay
Have you been watching T.V.? "No Justice, No Peace," "BLM", "Equal Justice for All," " Defund the Police."
George Floyd.
What is your very first thought when you hear that name, when you see those protesters?
Stop. Think carefully. Was that really your very first thought? Or did you instantly filter it?
If so, it's probably a good thing, a sign that you want to change your thoughts.
Why would you want to do that? My hope is that it is because you felt something when you saw how black men and women have been treated in our country, when you saw how black boys are trained to be careful how they act with police so they won't get killed.
My hope it that sometime during the past week you have had compassion for George Floyd when you watched him being killed. I hope you had compassion for the mothers who have lost their sons to police violence, so often so unnecessary violence.
I hope you have compassion for the people in the protests that have finally had enough and want more from out country, people who want us all to change how we think about equality, about justice, about racism, and about our part in it. Because we each have a part to change our country for the better.
Compassion is not just a feeling. It is a call to action. Be part of the solution.
I'm an old white lady. I acknowledge my privilege. I continue to address my racist reactions that come from so many years of programming. I see a black man in my white neighborhood and remind myself that he is not a threat. But my first reaction is fear. I'm working on changing that. These are the small things that we need to change, inside ourselves, as part of the solution.
I hope this week has challenged you to explore your own biases and challenge them.
We are all in this together.
Image by truthseeker08 from Pixabay
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