Human Goodness. It may not be good enough anymore.
Most will agree there is a great deal of human goodness in our country and yet we have barely scratched the surface in resolving our racial issues over dozens of generations.
Like so many of us, I have been involved in a number of discussions this week about our shared sense of grief and horror over the untimely deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, and the violence that has ignited at some of the otherwise peaceful protests in our US cities. We are duly shocked, we are outraged and we are sharing it on social media. The sobering reality is that these horrific events of injustice are not new but yet another chapter in our nation’s long history of harassment and violence against People of Color.
While I speak only for myself, I know many share my view, wholeheartedly endorsing the demands for justice, the fight against racism, and an unwillingness to tolerate anything less than equal rights for all Americans.
I think I have spent most of my adult life being a good human. This does not necessarily make me a good ally and I’ve come to understand that human goodness is probably not enough. Most will agree there is a great deal of goodness in our country and yet we have barely scratched the surface of resolving our racial issues over dozens of generations. I think we need to differentiate between being a person who is not a racist—a good thing– and being an ally, which requires informing and educating our human goodness. Being an ally requires that alongside our expressions of shock and outrage on social media, and our companies’ statements of solidarity, that we also listen… and not rush to respond, but take in what we see and read and think about it. Then dig in and do the work of educating ourselves about the systemic racism in this country. I have decided that I am going to strive to be a braver and better-informed ally of People of Color.
Now what?
We often find ourselves perplexed and even apoplectic in seeking ways we can show up as an ally, help heal, be a force for inclusion, ensure everyone in our communities are treated with dignity and respect. I’ve been conducting some research on two items in order to become more aware, involved, and active. I humbly share some resources I’ve found with anyone in my network who may have an interest or curiosity to engage in these issues.
(1) How I can become more knowledgeable about issues of race and social inequity through reading and learning?
How to be Antiracist, White Fragility, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, and White Rage provide contemporary insight on how to show up for communities of color.
(2) What are some ways I can stand with People of Color and support organizations that are moving the needle on racial justice?
Color of Change, Campaign Zero, the NAACP, and the ACLU
The folks at General Assembly have assembled an impressive catalog of resource links to deepen awareness and knowledge including articles, books, podcasts, etc. http://bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES
Good humans can become better allies. Where? Right here. When? Right now.
