Dr. King, I will try to do better.
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. –Maya Angelou
Dear white friends,
Anyone who denies that systemic racism still exists in our country dishonors Dr. King, and gives aid and comfort to the racists.
Part of my 2020 journey was to realize how I have focused too much on “not being a racist” and not nearly enough on “being an anti-racist.” Simply not being a racist allows the systemic racism to remain. Systemic racism must be dismantled through action, and that work, Dr. King’s work, requires anti-racists.
There are no sidelines. If you are not taking action to remove systemic racism, then you are aiding its continued existence. Want to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem?
Many of us were raised to be “color-blind” and talk about race was discouraged. Mentions of race were often whispered when it couldn’t be avoided. So, you may feel a twinge of discomfort. I feel it when I type “Dear white friends.” Don’t let that discomfort stop you from being an ally of Dr. King.
Removing systemic racism from our society is going to require uncomfortable white people. Trust me, we can handle the discomfort.
This 21-day challenge (a few minutes per day) is a start.
https://diversity.ucsd.edu/about/events/21-day-anti-racism-challenge/index.html
James Seddon is a father, husband, author, Navy veteran, speaker, military veteran activist, IT manager, and regularly unsuccessful fisherman living in Southern California. Find him at https://james-seddon-author.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/jamesseddonauthor