Hope and Skepticism

Over the last few weeks, the world has witnessed a societal eruption across the United States. We have all had a front row seat to a historic groundswell of support for Black people. Resulting in a shift of the social tectonic plates that underlie the American institution of racism. Spanning the spectrum of race, age, wealth, political affiliation, and industries – there has been a deafening call to justice and equality for Black people in America. Like a school of fish at sea, the world has swam through a deluge of viral imagery consisting of police brutality, peaceful demonstrations, civil protests, further erosion of leadership by the executive branch of government, courageous outcries for justice, and surreptitious actions by fringe interests.

As both a Black man and Black professional, this has been a particularly unique period. I have received multiple calls, emails, texts, and instant messages from non-Black family, friends, and colleagues reaching out to provide support. All of which I openly accept and greatly appreciate. In tandem with the public gestures and commitments of support for myself and all Black lives; I have felt a complex convergence of both hope, and skepticism.

Hope due to:

·      the resounding demonstration of solidarity by non-Black Americans across the country

·      the future being challenged by a new fearless generation

·      the physical risks non-Black Americans have faced in confrontations with law enforcement

·      the unyielding fortitude of the Black community

·      the public admissions of ignorance and guilt on behalf of many White Americans

·      the public statements, actions, and donations by institutions both large and small

·      the reality that America has not been free, nor just for all

·      systemic change appearing to be in the hearts and on the minds of more White Americans

Just as my hope builds, it is counteracted decisively by skepticism. My skepticism is rooted in my historical awareness of White America, and how it truly never sought to recognize Black people as equals. White America underwrote the prosperous trade of enslaved people; and at the same time, legislating that one enslaved person counts as three-fifths of a human being. White America implemented the horrid system of oppression throughout the Jim Crow era. White America consistently rejected the achievements of Black Americans while strategically accepting exemplar achievements of a few. White America erected the barriers and narrowed the pathways to social mobility. White America has and still openly underfunds Black communities. White America encouraged the proliferation of the prison industrial complex. White America provided the bulk of the support to place a man who once called for the execution of five innocent Black boys in the Oval Office. For historical reasons, I am wholly vindicated in my skepticism of White America and how it has treated Black people. Nevertheless, my skepticism with White America does not overshadow my understanding there have been White people who have categorically denounced and have fought to end the inequities experienced by Black people throughout the history of America. Unfortunately, history indicates the White people who took those stances did not have the backing of White America.

My soaring hope and reasonable skepticism has lead to a compiling of additional emotions. Fortunately, throughout this watershed moment in American history, I have been able to lean on two old school sources for guidance: Earth, Wind & Fire and my father.

I typically seek the melodic and uplifting tunes gifted to the world by the band Earth, Wind & Fire during times of stress or melancholy. The full range of instrumentation and vocal harmonies normally puts me in a better mind-state. Recently the band’s 1976 album Spirit has connected with me on a spiritual level, specifically the track Burnin’ Bush. In the song, the band reflects on the inequities of our society and question at what point things will improve. The first two lines of the song are the most striking, “What does it take to show an illustration of the hurt and the pain of a nation?” I have found this question constantly looping in my head throughout these last few weeks. With Earth, Wind & Fire giving me buoyancy to keep my spirits afloat, my father's advice serves as the rudder to my boat.

During one of our almost daily calls, my father told me, “you have to keep doing what you would have been doing before all of this stuff began. Focus on that and everything else will work itself out. You can’t get caught up in the emotional contagion of the moment.” Emotional contagion can broadly be defined as the phenomenon that individuals tend to express and feel emotions that are like those of others. My father further expounded that I must resist getting caught up in the emotional contagion of the moment. He recognized that I was understandably disturbed and upset, but warned me of emotional contagion because it can ultimately hinder me from achieving my goals. On the surface, his simple and straightforward advice can be surmised as “you got to keep on keeping on”.

The reality is he passed down sage advice he gained from a former professor, who later became a mentor. As an undergraduate student during the 1960’s at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University my father experienced protests, public demonstrations, and confrontations with law enforcement and the National Guard. It was during that period of social unrest across the country and on his college campus that his mentor impressed upon him to not get caught up in the emotional contagion of the moment. To be clear, that was not a suggestion for him to ignore the issues of the day, nor was it an objection to the protests. Rather it was apt wisdom that has reached through the generations.

As I simultaneously reflect on the question posed by Earth, Wind & Fire and weigh the advice from my father, I have contemplated what is within my capacity to enact systemic change. I can continue to volunteer, donate to Black organizations and institutions, build lasting relationships with other Black professionals, and buy from Black businesses. I can also extend myself and find more opportunities to volunteer, give my last cent to Black organizations and institutions, try to build a relationship with each Black professional in my orbit, and exclusively buy from Black businesses. Regrettably, I conclude my efforts will not enact systemic change.

Systemic change will not be a direct result of the efforts from myself or other Black professionals. If that were the case, the systems that need to be changed would already be fixed. Black people did not create an elaborate matrix of systems to oppress ourselves. Those systems were designed by White people and sponsored by White America. Therefore, it is my hope that White people and White America will work to prove my skepticism wrong.

Below are my questions to White people and White America:

·      Do Black Lives Matter now because of emotional contagion? Why did it not seem to matter before? How many more Black lives will be casualties in the fight for equality?

·      Why did it take a perfect storm of calamity to show this illustration of hurt and pain? To what extent is hyperactivity across technology and media platforms responsible for this illustration? In lieu of technology and media platforms, would this illustration have been painted at all?

·      If it took several hundred years to begin and build consensus support for all Black lives, how much longer do we have to go until things are definitively equal? Is that even a possibility? If so, what does that illustration of a nation look like?

·      Are we witnessing a permanent sea change in our society, or is this a temporary flash point that will eventually fade once the news cycle progresses to the next crisis?

·      How can Black people hold historically racist and biased institutions accountable for their recent enlightenment? What were the real barriers to galvanizing this type of support for Black people in the past? Have those barriers been permanently dismantled or temporarily out of service for maintenance?

· Should I have more faith in White people and/or White America?