Within the past 3 months, so much has happened. We went from having and still dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic to now experiencing another pandemic called Racism and Injustice. And in all actuality, the reality is that we’ve never stopped dealing with this particular pandemic. It’s been here for quite awhile. And until it’s properly dealt with, it’s here to stay. A sad reality!
The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Eric Gardner, Tamir Rice and so so many others has helped to influence the issue that even after 401 years, we continue to face.
If you haven’t already figured out by now, I love giving definitions. People need to have a better understanding because without understanding or actual facts/proof, we will take stuff and run with it. Tell me I’m lying!
Racism is defined as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.
Now that we have an understanding, can we all agree that this is a major issue? And not just in America, but globally.
No one is born a racist. Racism is a behavior that is learned. If you put a group of diverse children in a room, I guarantee you, they will all play together and the color of their skin will not be a factor. Do you know how many children at my job run to me, yell Ms. Tia and give me a hug? These children don’t see color…until they are taught to believe it’s a factor.
A belief is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. It’s something believed. If we believe that something is true or that it exists then obviously it’s something that’s taught. It’s something we constantly see so it has to be true, right? It’s imbedded in us. I truly believe we are all natural lovers until we are taught different. One isn’t necessarily born despising or hating another race, THEY ARE TAUGHT.
Think about the time when you are cool with someone. All of a sudden you hear something negative from another person you are close with who nine times out of ten is jealous and then your whole perspective of that person changes. Why? Because it came from someone we trust, so it has to be true. That’s the same with racism, we hear negative things about a group of people. Consistently! We hear it from those we trust, so it has to be true.
This stuff is heavy y’all. And we aren’t going to be okay until we come to the conclusion, and the understanding, that racism is in fact a major problem. It’s a cancer.
I wrote all of that to say that we have to do better. We have to teach our children better. The next generation has to be better than us. Things are getting so much worse. We have to do better for our babies.
We have to teach them different. We have to teach them that everyone should be treated equal. We have to teach them love. Love doesn’t hate. Love doesn’t discriminate. Love is pure. It’s acceptance no matter who you are.
We have to do better!
