I can't breathe - An open letter to LinkedIn

This is an open letter to LinkedIn CEO, Jeff Weiner, the LinkedIn Editors responsible for the LinkedIn Daily Rundown, any and all members who happen upon this post.

The purpose of the Daily Rundown according to LinkedIn:

"Each morning, a team of LinkedIn Editors publish the Daily Rundown to make sure you start your day with top professional news, trends and career tips… Now, you can more easily move between each story and dive deeper into the ones that interest you the most. Want to share your perspective on a piece of news? Clicking on one of the headlines within the Rundown will show you relevant conversations members are already having. In fact, over a third of the posts we see from our members are related to "info and ideas." By joining one of these conversations you’ll ensure your views are reaching the right people." 

Source: https://www.dhirubhai.net/help/linkedin/answer/72665/news-on-linkedin

If the objective of the Daily Rundown is in fact to get LinkedIn users conversing around the latest trending topics, by connecting us through to key conversations, then the absence of any mention of George Floyd’s murder in today’s Daily Rundown should be of great concern to us all. For it’s reflective of the world's largest online professional networking site either ignorant of, indifferent, negligent or hesitant to engage its network in discussion on this case and its relevance to leaders and professionals today. If so, I’d like to correct that with this letter. Please LinkedIn, let’s talk!

First of all, this letter is about our civic and professional responsibilities. If you’re hesitating to comment or form an opinion on the now viral video and story, thinking that “we don’t have all the information”, I do so hope you’ll agree that whatever transpired before the content of that video could in no way whatsoever justify the treatment of any human being like that. Even animals being treated like that are immediately condemned with no need for any explanation beyond that which our eyes can so plainly see. This issue goes beyond any likely racism on the officer’s part, even more so it's about the broken systems and skewed beliefs that perpetuate it and the lives continuously and senselessly lost as a result of it.

The murder of George Floyd was heartbreaking to say the least. 

It was heartbreaking and deeply disturbing to watch a black man desperately call out to his absent Mother, pleading to be released, repeating over and over again that he could not breathe, saying his neck hurt, his stomach hurt, everywhere hurt. Plead for his life while a white man, an officer of the law no less, someone whose role is to protect the lives of the citizens they serve, the very man on whom he knelt, so nonchalantly keep his hands in his pockets while clearly maintaining pressure on George Floyd’s neck and back for almost 10 minutes, even after his body went limp. Kneeling on him, a human being, killing him in broad daylight while so many stood by and watched, either indifferent, desensitized or too afraid to help him. Too afraid to do anything to save this man’s life. Afraid to do anything other than film his murder, all the while pleading for his life while doing so. Can you imagine the frustration, anger and helplessness felt by that young black man filming? The trauma experienced by the many who witnessed Floyd’s murder or watched it afterward? Can you imagine the impact on young black men in America? The fear felt by so many mothers, parents, as their young black sons leave home each day?

Justice must be served! This has got to stop!

There’s deep work that needs to be done to educate not just white America but all white and/or privileged and entitled beings, many of who may remain ignorant of the existence and/or devastating impact of their own privilege and prejudices until someone of a different hue or class attempts entry into their community, club or worst yet family. So many may even comment on this but deny their own prejudices. These issues have to be laid bare and addressed but how can we do so when so many continue to ignore or avoid it?

Can you imagine being hesitant or afraid to even discuss these issues? In your workplace, communities, on social media? Are you?

As a people we need to get real before we can heal.

All who are repeatedly and unfairly disadvantaged in this world don’t need our apathy, sympathy or empathy, they need us to take ownership and action. They need us to think, speak and act differently and meaningfully so, toward real and sustainable change.

Please take this discussion to your homes, offices, communities, nations, sons, daughters, parents, families, leaders…mirrors!

World citizens, leaders, professionals, please do an earnest review of the policies, thinking and behavior that continually work against progress within your sphere of influence and seize every opportunity to change them.

Please…

I can’t breathe, we can’t breathe until we all can. 

Stop stifling and killing us…all of us, please. 

Let’s talk. 

EVERYTHING begins with a conversation. Meaningful and sustainable change requires a hard, open, honest and real conversation, so let’s have one and keep it going.

We have a responsibility to do so. I have a responsibility to do so. We have a responsibility to do so.

I’ve just exercised my civic and professional responsibility to do so. 

End of letter / rant.

Positively,

Gillian

PS: Apologies for any typos etc., if I stopped to do any further edits I may not have posted it. Thanks for understanding.