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This is my personal perspective about racism. It’s not fully formed, because I’m doing my best to listen, learn & empathize.
I’ll be honest in saying that I’m not sure what to do about this long-standing problem, but I am sure that we need dramatic community-driven change. 1/
I’ll be honest in saying that I’m not sure what to do about this long-standing problem, but I am sure that we need dramatic community-driven change. 1/
It’s not hard to see that this is truly a matter of life or death for people of colour.
If I get pulled over in my town, I gripe about getting a ticket. I’ve never had to wonder if I was going to be subjected to violence at the hands of people in authority. 2/
If I get pulled over in my town, I gripe about getting a ticket. I’ve never had to wonder if I was going to be subjected to violence at the hands of people in authority. 2/
I don’t want to live in a place where any of my neighbours have to worry about that. Things are supposed to be so much better than that.
But I worry about racism at an even deeper level. I don’t want to live somewhere that determines your neighbourhood; your education , 3/
But I worry about racism at an even deeper level. I don’t want to live somewhere that determines your neighbourhood; your education , 3/
...your employability; your arrestability; your economic status; even your life span based on the colour of your skin.
Forgive me, but George Floyd & Jacob Blake are just the tip of the iceberg. I believe people who look like me have taken from people of colour in ways... /4
Forgive me, but George Floyd & Jacob Blake are just the tip of the iceberg. I believe people who look like me have taken from people of colour in ways... /4
... that are far more pervasive and sustained and damaging. These ways have become our culture. We try not to name them or we brush them off, but we need to give them a face and some airtime too.
We need to teach our kids about these “ways”. /5
We need to teach our kids about these “ways”. /5
We need to demand and provide leadership aimed at ending racism at its deepest level. That will mean changing systems, spending money, listening to people who are marginalized, trying new things and accepting a new distribution of power. It’s time for these things to come. /6
Let me close with this quote from CBC:
“police apparently let the young white man suspected of carrying out some or all of the shootings walk past them with a semi-automatic rifle over his shoulder as members of the crowd yelled for him to be arrested.”
Think about this... /7
“police apparently let the young white man suspected of carrying out some or all of the shootings walk past them with a semi-automatic rifle over his shoulder as members of the crowd yelled for him to be arrested.”
Think about this... /7
An unarmed black man, with his back toward police is shot 7 times.
A few days later, a heavily armed white man walks easily past police after reports of two murders.
I don’t believe that the police consciously intended for either of these, and that’s the issue.
/8
A few days later, a heavily armed white man walks easily past police after reports of two murders.
I don’t believe that the police consciously intended for either of these, and that’s the issue.
/8
Racism runs deep and affects our decisions, often without us realizing.
As I stated at the beginning of this thread, I’m not completely sure of all I should do, but I think it will begin with some personal reflection and a commitment to do better.
Truly.
/9
As I stated at the beginning of this thread, I’m not completely sure of all I should do, but I think it will begin with some personal reflection and a commitment to do better.
Truly.
/9
