Who Really Cares About Racism and Equity Anyway?

I was speaking with a friend and colleague who asked me why (as a white male I presume), Im so passionate about racial, equity, and social justice issues. Why I think and write about it so much even posting my personal views on a professional networking site like LinkedIn (a major faux pas for a lot of people I guess).

Great question. I took a moment to think about it and I kind of felt a bit stumped and stupid for having to think about it.

To me it was kind of like being asked: "why do you care about your kids?"

"Um... I don't really know. I guess because... they're... my... kids!? Because I'm a human being... with a conscience?"

Why doesn't everyone?!

Don't get me wrong, the question didn't annoy me at all and I really love that they felt free to ask me. And, I still don't have a great answer

I really don't know why I care so much. I also don't know why every parent doesn't seem to care about their kids and love them as deeply as I love mine. Why they can physically, verbally and emotionally abuse their kids --I don't get it.

And I don't know why everyone doesn't care about equity for all (including black people and people of colour, and LGTBQ+, and women, and indigenous people, and everyone else who wasn't lucky enough to have been born with or into the most socially beneficial attributes (i.e white, hetero, wealthy, male).

I wonder why people are so unhappy and so broken that they feel they have to get their worth from diminishing and repressing others. That parents feel they have to yell at and beat their kids to feel strong, that men demean women to feel powerful and in charge, that white people repress black people to feel superior, and on and on.

But what's the point though right? I cant change the world though right? Well, as I tell my kids: "NOT WITH THAT ATTITUDE! ".

I may not be able to change the world, however I can change MY world

And my world includes not just my family and my friends but all of you.

The people I work with and have worked with in the past.

And I am committed to making my world more equitable, fair, and just.

Because that's literally the only way our world can become more equitable, fair and just --if we who want it create it that way.

How? By using our voice, our votes, and our actions to create the world we want.

So why do I care? I don't know. Maybe just because I'm a human being with a conscience and I want to use whatever privilege, voice, and platform I have to make whatever difference I can make.

And I want to invite everyone who wants the same things to join me and help create the world we want.

Like and Share if you want to join me.