Enough is enough.
It saddens me that we are living in a country/world where this topic even needs to be discussed in 2020, but it does.
I usually try to stay on the positive side of things through my writing, however, I feel the need to deviate from that right now. I’m not excited, nor overly happy. I think most of us can agree that it’s been a trying several months for a myriad of reasons, but the past couple weeks in particular have brought to the forefront (unfortunately, ONCE AGAIN) a problem that needs to be eliminated…racism.
I’m not going to pretend I am an expert in any way. I can simply try to convey the thoughts/emotions that have been going through my own mind and hope that they can help in some way, similar to Part 1.
At some point during my adolescent years I developed a deep sense of annoyance and almost hatred towards injustice. Maybe it was something I saw on TV, or something I saw with my own eyes in real life, but something clicked and that feeling has been with me ever since.
People being treated unfairly because they spoke up for what was right, or instances where corporations treat people/the environment/_insert gripe here_ with complete disrespect have always got me fired up. But the issue that gets me the most heated, and downright pisses me off, is to know that people get treated unfairly simply because of THEIR SKIN COLOR.
Again, I am not going to pretend that I am perfect when it comes to issues of race – I have most certainly said insensitive things throughout my life, probably to close friends without truly reflecting on my comments impacts. This is something most of us may be guilty of – knowingly or not.
It is time for everyone to reflect a little more before they speak, and most certainly take time to listen, as this is often when the best learning can take place.
A part of Mario Fraioli’s Morning Shakeout email this past Tuesday stuck out to me:
“I’ve been off Twitter for three weeks. I’ve haven’t shared much on Instagram the past few days. But I’ve been watching. Listening. Reading. Thinking. Talking. Writing. Learning. Questioning. Understanding. Acting. It hasn’t been easy or comfortable. Then again, most work worth doing isn’t. It requires a lot more effort than posting a photo of the new book you’re reading or sharing someone else’s Instagram story about what white people can do better to understand racism. That stuff is a small step but the real work is in admitting to yourself that you’ve been a part of the problem and then committing to real solutions like reaching out to your Black and minority friends and trying to understand where they’re coming from, calling out people when they make seemingly benign racist jokes, writing to your local leaders, representatives, and law enforcement officials demanding equal treatment for blacks and other people of color, pushing for change in the educational institutions that have long ignored the issue of racism in the classroom, and supporting organizations that are leading the fight for racial justice. As my friend Charles, a Black man who has been a member of my Wednesday night track squad for the past four years, wrote me yesterday, ‘Now is an opportunity to notice your circle of friends and the people with whom you associate. The more diverse your personal relationships, the easier it is to understand differing perspectives and empathize/advocate for them. Pay attention to your direct community: how people are represented in media, board room, state houses, court rooms, places of influence. How are parents influencing their children?’ This is the work we all have to do. These are the action items that need our immediate attention. These are the changes that we need to make stick.”
Yes, this is the work WE ALL HAVE TO DO. Racism is an issue, a really damn big one. It doesn’t go away by simply reflecting on it and hoping it goes away. Every last one of us plays a role in ending racism and we must embrace that fact. This isn’t something that will end only because of efforts from other people.
That is why I am going to actively work towards creating change, change that is years and years and years overdue. Part of that active work is writing this article and not remaining silent. But I want to do more…I need to do more.
That is why I feel the need to put my money where my mouth is. Duluthrunner.com will be doing two things immediately to try and do just that:
- Making a donation to Duluth’s NAACP. From their website: “The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.” -If that’s not worth supporting, I’m not sure what is!
- We will be refunding our Coaching clients’ June payments and encouraging them to make a donation to the organization of their choice to help eliminate systemic racism.
There is obviously more to be done, but that is something we can do RIGHT NOW to start making a difference.
We must get involved and speak up for truth, speak up for what is right. Every last human being on this planet is priceless, regardless of skin color…it’s time more people start acting like it.