Several months ago, a community member called me. They’d been terminated from their job, for discriminatory reasons, and were now suing their former employer.

They already had an attorney. They weren’t calling for legal help. They wanted, in part, to apologize. See, nearly a decade ago when I was newer to CAIR, they were a critic.

Their perspective at the time was that we were always fighting, always coming on strong, discrimination did not exist in the way we claimed it did. Now, having personally experienced discrimination and actual financial loss because of it, they understood why we do what we do.

I did not need an apology. It was a kind thought. It was also really sad that this person needed to experience the harm first hand to confront their own blind spot. I would not wish that on anyone.

Our privilege causes our blind spots. These past few weeks have tested my privilege, and that of so many. Losing that privilege can be really jarring but also educational. Can we learn the same without the personal experience?

Can we care about domestic violence before a loved one is quarantined with an abuser with no place to go during shelter-in-place?

Will we advocate for Medicare for All before we lose our jobs and the health insurance tied to it?

As primaries are delayed and our democracy is at stake, will we speak about voting rights?

Wouldn’t paid sick leave make a difference in protecting us when we shouldn’t go to work or even us when other people shouldn’t go to work?

How do we feel about living wages when every industry is laying people off, except the ones that don’t pay a living wage and we’ll want those jobs?

I pray we become advocates and believers before we are forced to in order to protect ourselves.