Racism: Fighting A Pandemic Within A Pandemic!

I have struggled to put into words the anguish that boils deep in the reservoirs of my soul. I have labored to articulate the churning of pain and trauma in my belly. I have not been able to fully explain the weight of the lament residing in the inner most corners of my heart. My spirit waivers somewhere in between being completely tired yet desperately clinging to strength that is sturdy enough to keep pressing and fighting for those that are marginalized and left voiceless – including myself. There is a tremble in my womb pushing for the manifestation of social justice and civil liberty for my Black brothers and sisters. Much of this sounds aspirational and inspirational but this is my truth.

We are inundated by a variety of media outlets covering the heinous and violent murders of black women, men, and children in their homes, communities, and neighborhoods. While the media exposure has been overwhelming at times, it does not even scratch the surface on those for whom their lives have been snatched prematurely because of complicit, covert, and overt racism for many generations. We are publicly watching modern day lynching’s at the hands of brute law enforcement officers and vigilantes. These individuals are driven by hate, racism, and implicit biases – directed toward Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).

Black folks have a sullied experience in the United States of America dating back to the early 17^th century. We were captured on the continent of Africa and forced into the transatlantic slave trade. Many of our ancestors were stripped of their language, robbed of their culture, and brought to this country as slaves some 400 years ago. We were dehumanized, beaten, ridiculed, raped, persecuted, misused, and abused. Then came Jim Crow, Black Codes, the new Jim Crow, and institutionalized racism in a variety of systems (education, housing, healthcare, political, criminal justice, financial/lending, employment, etc.). As such, we have always been at a boiling point. In the words of James Baldwin, “To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage”. This rage speaks to the constant fatigue of existing in a society where your intentions and/or value are consistently challenged or misunderstood. We are tired from fighting for our own humanity. Whether we oppose oppression in a peaceful or revolutionary manner, each method is met with visceral opposition for having the audacity to challenge the systems that crush the necks of Black folks, promote white supremacy, and uphold white privilege. It is honorable to protest about the inconvenience of not being able to get a haircut in the middle of a pandemic but detested when fighting to be valued as a BIPOC. To be Black in America is criminal. To fight against racism is criminalized. We have come a long way but have so much further to go as a nation. The anger and frustration of many is bursting at the seams. The internal screams of oppression must find their way out for some sort of relief and how one chooses to release those screams will vary – it is par for the course.

May this be a year of awakening for many as we have reached a critical tipping point in this country. We are in the middle of a public health crisis. Black folks are succumbing to COVID-19 at a much faster rate than all other groups. We are in the middle of an economic crisis that further deteriorates the quality of life for BIPOC communities. We are literally fighting a pandemic within a pandemic. News Flash: Racism is a public health issue! We are barely scratching the surface on the action needed to propel the Black Lives Matter Movement and tear down structural racism in our systems.

We must expand our focus on the bigger picture and the incremental steps that can be taken to address the matters of inequity, social injustices, and abuse of civil liberties. We must exercise empathy when assessing what is happening in the hearts and minds of those at the hands of oppression. We must focus our energy on conversations that are fruitful. We must educate ourselves. We must find tangible ways to advance sustainable movements of change. We must strategize. We must unify our demonstrations. We must vote!

The Black community cannot single-handedly pluck down the systems of oppression that we did not build or create. We are not looking for apologies or sympathy. We need allies, advocates, and connectors to sit at the table of social change eradicating racist constructs. Only you can discern what you are able and willing to do to denounce racist ideologies. Only you can determine what you’re willing to give up to in an effort to ensure BIPOC communities have equitable access to the same opportunities and quality of life that come with being a member of a dominating white culture. Intentionality must supersede passive and performative attitudes and behaviors. If you are unable to shift your heart in any direction to promote and support anti-racism, then please do not ask for a seat at the table. Finally, all lives will not matter until black lives matter.

Signing off in the spirit of faith, love, and peace…