It's Not Enough

I have experienced a plethora of emotions this week. I’m inspired by the personal responsibility that people from all walks of life are taking around the emergence of recent events brought on by the disturbing and unjust "while black" incidents and horrific deaths. George Floyd, Christian Cooper, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor are just a small, hand-full of recent examples that have reached the eyes and ears of the public that has created a tipping point around prejudice and systemic racial discrimination in our country. I send my love and condolences to those families who are wading through the unspeakable grief and suffering caused by these events. 

As a bi-racial black woman, my role and sense of responsibility is so great, my body feels like it’s on fire. Personally, I’m aware and recognize that I'm extremely privileged, simply because the color of my skin. I will never know or understand the experience of a another human who’s skin is a shade or 2 darker than mine. If you pause and think about that fact, it's a devastating reality.

On the other hand, my ancestors were slaves. My black father grew up in a segregated south. My father was verbally and physically attacked by white men for being seen with my mother - a white woman. I have been personally alienated because of my black father, beautiful African lineage and what some call “ambiguous” background from my own family and from others.

That fire I’m feeling is in many of us, but what we desperately need is the courage to lead, influence, speak up and impact where we can. This doesn’t need to be extreme and it doesn’t require a ton of organizing. We all have pockets of influence within our control. This includes educating ourselves, our communities and our children about systemic inequalities, racism and prejudice. Strengthening our own families and ending generational views on the black community. Speaking up at our places of work against covert and overt discrimination. These are all actions that we can impact every single day if we're brave and courageous.

It's not enough...

It’s just not enough anymore to post on social media platforms and then become silent in “real life.” It’s not enough to step down when things get hard. It’s not acceptable to back down when the opportunity presents itself to correct injustice. We must use our platforms, yes, and the only way to create change is by... well... actually challenging what needs to change... in real time and head on. Be and LEAD the change you want to see.

#weallhavearesponsibility #beandleadthechange #enoughisenough