Anti-Racism

I had planned to post a blog today about a fun perspective on Problems vs. Opportunities.  As I was getting that ready though, it felt like I was leaping over a huge void, and ignoring this nagging feeling inside of me that what I really want to talk about in this particular moment is Anti-Racism.

This is a topic that I am a bit ashamed to say I am really only recently learning about (hmmm, I wonder why we have not yet solved our racial challenges in meaningful ways??...)  It is a topic that is coming up in many of the conversations I am having, in more on-line posts and throughout the things I am hearing on the airwaves.  I have long considered myself a dedicated non-racist, but now realize non-racism is more like standing silent.

I do all I can to live my life and stand by people, places and things that generate hope and love.  Fear and hatred do nothing but break us all down, as well as limit our opportunities.  While I do have some fears of those things I can further do in an anti-racist fashion, even as I do not exactly know what is best to do just yet, I am pledging to myself to continue on, in a powerful and positive way to make a true difference to help eliminate racism.

One of my partners in this discussion recently shared with me that the true anti-racist actions that we need to take are so especially hard, because they come with a personal cost.  Non-racist actions are easy, effortless, basic.  Anti-racist actions might impact our businesses or careers, our health, our family life, or our status in social circles, so it makes us reluctant to take them.

In looking for personal support and in researching some anti-racists, I discovered some I knew and some that surprised me.  The list is long but here are just a few that stood out for me:

Burt Lancaster, the famous tough guy in films starting in the 60’s, stood firmly and publicly aligned with social causes at a time that meant being blacklisted in the industry and put on FBI watch lists, but he did it anyway, over and over.  He famously rebuked a derogatory description of a presidential candidate by his opponent as a “card carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union,” explaining he too was a member of this organization who’s guiding principle was, in fact, liberty and justice FOR ALL.

Colin Kaepernick lost a large chunk of a promising and profitable football career over his commitment to bring needed light on the disparity of police treatment of black men.  He was, and still remains, a highly unpopular American to many, for the peaceful and physically harmless act of kneeling down.  Will a team in the NFL now pay the price, take the heat, and sign him in this moment?

And finally, Martin Luther King, Jr. paid the highest price of all, but triggered a wave of social reform through his messages of peace, love, commitment, and hope.

I hope we all take the time to consider what we can do best to leverage the important changes that are able to happen finally at this unique time.  Most of all I would like to continue to listen to those around me, hear what they are saying, talk with each other, think together, and continue to find ways to improve effectively so that we don’t ever have to come back to this place again, and are better forward forever.