Our children are watching us.
Now more than ever we need to take action to support others and increase our awareness of racism. We need to raise the next generation with a deeper understanding than we ever imagined while we grew up.
I hope that all of you are with me in making this a turning point to recognize that we as a nation still have bias and institutional racism.
I thought I understood. I’m embarrassed and ashamed that I thought I understood.
I thought I understood because I grew up with an older brother and an older sister with darker skin color. My brother was a victim of racial profiling more than once. But I am not him, I don’t think I truly understood the broader effects of an occurrence like that.
I thought I understood because I grew up in a family and community that recognized and has actively worked to end racism. I have been a part of those efforts, and since I was little, I have had many friends of many colors and backgrounds.
I thought I understood and this year, of course, has been eye-opening. And this week has been even further eye-opening. I have learned that I still don’t understand.
Treating someone kindly on an individual basis is a part of the picture, but not the whole picture. Understanding history and how that history affects generation after generation is another part of the picture. Understanding how our social construct has created missed opportunities due to accessibility, mindset, and support are all additional parts of the picture. And I imagine there is much more that I am missing. There is much more to learn and I’m not even completely aware of what I have yet to understand.
As a mentor shared recently there is discomfort that comes up when talking about racism. And in that discomfort is room for growth. Growth is uncomfortable. And it is important for us to feel these feelings in order to process and grow.
I watched this video today that depicts institutional racism. (It comes courtesy of a thoughtful and educational blog post, The Conscious Kid.) I thought I understood racism and again have learned more about what I don’t understand.
Understanding racism is a journey. It is a journey I hope all parents will step into so we can raise a more conscious and compassionate next generation.
I hope you will join me today by commenting on this post with books, websites, blogs, podcasts, and other resources you have found helpful in your journey to educate yourself and your family about racism.
Let’s not just leave this as a list of good intentions. Change will not happen unless we actually act. One book, one video, one blog post; pick just one and start there.
This is important. Our children are watching us. Let’s do it now.