Sharing!
I found this Santa candy dish in the dollar store. Being cheap, I started not to buy him. But then, thought I better buy him now. So I bought one for Kornr Store and one for my home.
In the past few years, I’ve noticed more Black Santa inspired decorations and wrapping paper sold in stores and that’s a good thing. That wasn’t the case a few years ago.
Images like this Black Santa are important because we tend to believe what we see and what we are told rather than what we know for ourselves.
Diversity, inclusion, equity, community are popular words we now use not really knowing and/or understanding the everyday personal costs, challenges and pain that lays beneath now culturally acceptable terms. But, you don’t know really know the inequality of an experience until it happens to you.
In my opinion, Christmas time demonstrates the most powerful images of how life is imagined for the majority of the population while ignoring the rest of the humans.
This holiday season, I challenge you to pay more attention to the human images presented to you while you shop and celebrate with friends and family. Images send powerful messages without saying a word.
This same behavior happens continually
in commercial real estate and supportive industries, like urban planning and architecture (I love y’all, but.). People get excited about new real estate development projects in and near downtowns and their adjacent business districts. And, we love the beautiful, glossy conceptual drawings and marketing.
But, often I don’t see people that look like me. And that my friends is dangerous, because it subtly conveys a strong message to me and everyone else that Black and Brown people don’t belong there (that place, those level of supportive amenities and businesses) without saying a word.
Inclusion, diversity and equity are just words. Santa is just a plastic candy dish.
But there is this unspoken reality that happens when I walk into some places that aren’t use to seeing people like me.
Something to think about, before you plan that next new shiny real estate development project. Consider the images (people and pictures), your team and professional circles present.
And, now that you have this new perspective, know that your efforts will help dilute powerful, outdated mindsets and practices.
Glad I got my Santa candy dishes.
Excited about the conversations he will activate.
Brinda Devine
Kornr Store
the neighborhood market
6224 16th St, Detroit 48208
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Please please come to SW Florida - Cape Coral ?? preferred.