On what side of history will you be?

“I don’t know why we call ourselves white…we are more of a dusty pink.”

These were the words of an amazing 80+ year old, who over the years, I have come to absolutely adore. We had to have the conversation. I was very keen to hear her perspective…and in a way, I suppose, I hoped she also shared my rage. She is of the generation that is largely excused for racist, unacceptable language and I half expected our conversation to include excuses for her generation ….and attempts to make me perhaps accept it for what it is. I was wrong.

Her perspective was beautiful. She spoke through the eyes of young children. ‘Children are born into this world speaking and responding to the language of love. They are not born seeing skin colour as a measure of quality’ …and of course children being perfect examples of the excellence in the human race, it absolutely made sense.

The last few months have been quite challenging for a lot of people in our world. Personally, I have had to untangle all sorts of knots -of fear, dismay, sadness and deep worry. The last couple of weeks especially have opened some old…and not so old wounds - unkind words…unfair treatment, demeaning insinuations and the list goes on. Whilst I have found strength in the wonderful reminders of the many many instances where I have experienced incredible kindness and sacrifice, my heart aches for an end to racism... in all forms!

400+ years of racism and today the streets of our world’s cities are full of people- in unison, saying- ‘Enough is Enough!’. And somehow, our world is awakening to see that racism, in fact, has zero true legitimacy- it is plain evil. There is a clear message that the reason our whole world is rising against it, is because it does not fit in to the design of our existence. Especially with more and more people educating themselves to see through the lies, and horrible tactics and most importantly the distortions in history and science reporting. Truth is emerging victorious.

Like a lot of people, it has been very difficult for me to watch the full video of the murder of George Floyd. And I keep on trying to erase the images of the many videos of gross injustice circulating on the internet. In so many ways, that knee on George Floyd’s neck tells the story of the many deliberate actions to snuff life and progress out of black people’s well-being, their wealth, out of their careers and progress – in subtle and shockingly glaring ways.

Going back to my dear friend’s childlike perspective.. if children are not born into this world racist, why has racism been hanging around for so long?

Well because…. racism is learned. For us to see significant steps towards ending it, its cycle MUST be broken. I recently cried grown woman tears as I heard young black female students speak, with deep pain, of the racism they experience in their schools. The name calling… the horrible pranks..the lack of representation. And whilst the black woman is known for her exceptional strength and resilience, and the wisdom of generations before her, I couldn’t but feel sick that a 16 year old would have to plead with her classmates to please understand ….that even if she scraped all of her hair off, it would still grow back afro.

And so when I think of what breaking the cycle requires, I cannot help but believe that:

Breaking the cycle is ensuring that schools have zero tolerance to racism.

Breaking the cycle is educating young people to see that there is deep, limitless beauty in our world’s diversity.

Breaking the cycle is ensuring that the racism in schools is not allowed to become racism in the workplace.

Breaking the cycle is ensuring that we are all encouraged to think about what it really means to be HUMAN.

Breaking the cycle is trusting that there is enough to go round. Allowing good to flourish.

Breaking the cycle is calling out systemic racism and being intentional about ending it.

Breaking the cycle is stellar leadership- brave, inspiring leadership and not just achieving bare minimum.

Breaking the cycle is realising the collective good in the fight against racism.

Breaking the cycle is not remaining silent.

Breaking the cycle is enabling diversity in teams towards amazing creativity and innovation.

Breaking the cycle is being fair…so much easier to be fair than to be intentionally unfair. 

The engineer & thinker in me CAN see change coming. I see an awakening stacking up quite nicely against ignorance. I see the millions of young people who are determined to treat our planet better, also being determined to ensure fairer lives for all. I see technology giving our world the freedom to create a new narrative- A narrative based on truer science….one that enables a level playing field.

It might be NOW, or over the next 5 years..or maybe 10 years ….

But I guess the question is, on what side of history are you going to be?

#blacklivesmatter #endsystemicracism #equality #georgefloyd #leadership