Happy Friday.
“We are not a trend. It’s more than that. A hashtag or a post. This is our lives… brave conversations need to happen. Awkward conversations…between Black people and wh… no – white people. They need to listen. And makes changes.”
Powerful words from my interview and ‘Brave Conversation’ with Chantal Carter last week.
My heart is still heavy.
While my hope is these Happy Friday blogs offer rays of positivity, helpful insights, ideas that inspire you into action (even before you ready… as that is what brave is all about!), I also value authenticity above all else.
I can no longer ignore our broken system, the systemic racism that continues to be pervasive – even in 2020 – and the social injustice that is killing lives. Black lives matter.
Perhaps you, too, have been deep into the conversation this past week.
So I don’t want, or need, to oversaturate you today.
Nor is it my voice that need’s to be heard right now.
And, I will share this:
After listening to a very eye-opening podcast episode Bréne Brown and Ibram X. Kendi on How To Be an Antiracist I was forced face the friction I’ve been feeling and experiencing.
The opposite of being racist is not ‘not being a racist.’ It’s being anti-racist.
And so therefore (stay with me), in my denial of racism, I am racist. But in the continual confession and acknowledgement of my racism, and committing to do the work to change, I am pursuing anti-racism.
This is GOOD NEWS. None of us are inherently racist. We have the power to change that. But it takes never-ending work.
“The heartbeat of racism is denial; confession is the heartbeat of antiracism.”
~ Ibram X. Kendi
Anti-racist work is hard.
I’ve heard that from numerous people – black people, white people, people who have been doing the work for years, people who have been avoiding the work, people who are ready to do the work.
I don’t know what that looks like entirely for me and The Brave Institute yet, and, I’m engaging in the conversation. I’m committing to figuring it out. And while I can err on the side of spontaneity, or taking action without fully thinking things through, this is too important to simply react in the moment.
I need to be in it for the long game.
As Chantal shared, “We are not a trend. It’s more than that… This is our lives…” (Watch the recording HERE.)
And in the meantime, The Brave Institute is continuing our ‘Brave Conversations’ series, and I’m grateful and excited to be speaking with Lily Cooper today at 1pm EST.
White ally, advocate, architect, writer, creator of Anti-Racism and Allyship Series, (not to mention all-around amazing human and friend) we’re going to dive deep on the idea of racial discomfort, the intersection of perfectionism and racism, and what action white people can take who are ready to ‘do the work.’
Please join us. (Even if you can’t join live, still register as you will receive the recording!)
Decades of social injustice cannot be undone in a few weeks.
And we – (I’ll admit I’ve used ‘we’ in the wrong context numerous, especially lately. Indeed I’m making mistakes and learning in the process! And in this case it is intentional…) the collective ‘we’ – (while in my opinion it’s time for white people to truly step up) need to be in it for the long game if we’re serious about ending racism.
I invite you to call me out, or call me in.
I invite you to hold me accountable.
I invite you to join me.
I hope you get your brave on this week,
