Racism: It's Your Move!

 

I  missed Jesse Williams’ acceptance speech on BET the other day.  I was hanging with my kids and grandkids.  So of course I had to search for the speech to hear what the buzz was about.  After hearing it, I felt a sense of pride that someone could articulate the problem so well, but I also felt sad, because no matter how well it is articulated… it still does not solve the problem.

Racism is a hard topic for me.

I was raised in a children’s home full of white and Hispanic children.    We were the only black family that lived there.  No one knew how to do our hair and no one could show us how to.   We were called names, talked about and ridiculed openly around the other young children that didn’t look like us.  This was done mainly by the adults that worked in the home.   Because the children’s home we lived in was a Christian based home, it gave us a glimpse of God.  We learned scripture and songs did programs and went to camp.  I was so busy living life and trying to have fun that I ignored some of the snide remarks and funny looks.  I don’t really think I saw the problem.   

I recall one night after our baths, the kids were watching TV in the den.  We were all sitting on the floor in our clean hand me down pajamas when a commercial came on.  It featured a young black couple advertising popular toothpaste.  When the jingle played and they smiled, their teeth were glistening white and straight.  I looked at the TV proudly!   Immediately the woman who was watching us said loudly “Those are not their teeth, black people don’t have good teeth.”   

 

 

To this day, I always remember that comment. This is what we grew up with, but instead of getting mad at everyone, I realized that there was a problem.   And it wasn’t me. 

Racism is a hard topic for me.  Not because I think it does not exist.  Not because I am an angry black woman who is scared.  It is hard for me because I know what God thinks about all of us.  He loves us. ALL OF US.  There is something so unique about all of us and every day, we miss it.  We miss HIM.

Honestly, I don’t know how to fix the problem.   I don’t have any new plan or  advice to end it.   I can only raise my kids to love everyone but also understand that others may not love them.  I can teach my son to be aware of his surroundings, to respect all law enforcement, but don’t agree to something that might be a set up.  I can remind my children and all those around me to respect each other and believe the best, until you start seeing the worst.

 

 

To me fighting racism is twofold.  It has to be done by both sides.  One side can’t expect the other to change without the other side changing.  It is like a marriage.  God tells women to respect their husbands and tells husbands to love their wives.    BUT…….Who is supposed to begin the process? 

We used to say, “Men, if you love her, she will respect you.”  and “Women, if you respect him, he will love you.”  But no one wants to make the first move.

You can’t get someone to think differently of you if you continue doing the negative things that they expect.  And You know you will not think differently of others if they keep doing the negative things you expect.  We  may be able to live around  each other,  but we may not trust them, just like they may not trust you. 

So, my conclusion is this.  I have no clue what we are going to do to fix this problem in our society.  But it is a serious problem.   So there it is......

 

Who will make the first move?