Photo by Nathan McBride
I want this time to be different. I really do.
I desperately want to believe that things can change in our country for the better, and I know many others want that, as well. Will the year 2020 mark the beginning of something great?
Maybe, in the midst of a pandemic, something is in the works. Maybe it’s actually because of the pandemic. The onset of COVID-19 undoubtedly captivated the nation’s attention, and people found themselves fixated on the daily news to stay current with the frequently changing situation. And with more people than ever so heavily focused on the national news, perhaps more people than ever before were exposed to tragedies caught on video that wouldn’t have gotten as much attention in recent years.
Whatever the reasoning, it’s undeniable that more people, specifically white people, than ever before have shown an interest in racial reconciliation and are calling for a dismantling of systemic racism than there ever has been. And it’s been incredible to see.
My hope is that people’s interest and investment will be sustained for a long time to come. Because, as history has shown us, the pursuit of equality and justice for all requires commitment and stamina. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. And justice can only be granted to the minority when supported by the majority who have the power to address things. Those suffering cannot simply exempt themselves from the suffering.
But, with so many new people suddenly speaking up, I find myself a little curious as to what prompted the change of heart? Why now?
I mean, many are now posting the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag but didn’t support it, and possibly even opposed it, when it first appeared back in 2013. And it’s great to hear Roger Goodell admit wrongdoing by the NFL to not address concerns of racism. But why didn’t he hold those same views when Colin Kaepernick started protesting back in 2016? And it only took Drew Brees one day to issue a public apology to his teammates and the entire city of New Orleans after making comments about defying the American flag. He admitted his lack of awareness by acknowledging the protests were not related to the flag and implying they are serves as a distraction from the real issue of systemic racism in our country.
How did Drew Brees learn all that in one day? What new information came to light that resulted in such a dramatic and sudden change of heart?
What about you? Were you previously opposed to NFL players kneeling during the anthem and now understand or accept it? Has something recently prompted you to reconsider your stance regarding our nation’s need for racial reconciliation?
But for all my curiosity at why so many are suddenly taking interest in social justice, I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not my place to critique people’s motives. And it also shouldn’t make me think any less of the idea that 2020 can actually be the year when things change. After all, if one of the Black Lives Matter founders thinks this time can be different, so should I. The addition of every new voice makes the collective cry for justice that much louder, and everyone can play a crucial role in the fight, regardless of how long they’ve been involved.
And with all the recent support, there are assuredly those who want to get involved. That’s made evident by the millions who posted black squares in support of #BlackoutTuesday to show their followers that they oppose injustice. But there are still those who want to help by doing more.
Is that you? Are you ready and willing to do something? Are you in search of ideas?
I believe the pursuit of equality and justice calls for education, conversation, and action.
These are not to be viewed as sequential steps. Rather, we can be engaged with multiple categories simultaneously, or we can shift back and forth while concentrating the categories individually. It’s also not to imply that these are the only categories worth focusing on. But I do think they are all necessary and offer a simple way to to think of things.
Below is a list of suggestions I’ve compiled separated by those categories. Whether you’re a rookie or veteran in the crusade for social justice, I hope you find them helpful and worth considering
EDUCATION
There is absolutely no shortage of educational tools at our disposal. And books are a great start.
If you’re unfamiliar and would like some exposure to a variety of topics, check out So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. If you would like a white person’s perspective regarding racial awareness and identity, check out White Awake by Daniel Hill and White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. If you like autobiographies, I would recommend Unashamed by Lecrae and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. If you’re interested in the church historical role when it comes to racial dynamics, take a look at The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby and Divided by Faith by Emerson and Smith. If you’re passionate about history and want to learn how
legislation was shaped and the impact it has had, consider The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein and The New Jim Crow by Michele Alexander. And I’d be remiss to not suggest Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Tatum and Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram Kendi.
All of those are great books. But what if you’re an auditory learner and enjoy podcasts? The 14-part series called “Seeing White” by Scene on Radio is definitely worth a listen, as is the weekly Pod Save the People podcast.
If you prefer watching movies, I would strongly consider the now widely known 13th as well as the Kalief Browder Story, both on Netflix.
And you can always find public speakers or take classes focused on racial awareness if you’re really willing to go above and beyond.
You may be tempted to try and learn from friends, especially if they’re people of color, by asking about things like recent police shootings or our nation’s history. But I would I would caution that and encourage you to educate yourself instead of looking to them as a teacher.
Rather than looking to your friends for education, why not lean into them for conversations?
CONVERSATION
Education is imperative. But it’s not enough.
We can’t learn in a vacuum. Doing so will never change our hearts. We need to hear the stories and experiences of others. Of others who don’t look like us or experience life like we do.
And that requires talking about things. It might sound awkward. It might be awkward. At first. But that will fade. And you’ll figure out how to have those types of conversations. And eventually you’ll start to see others in a whole new way.
Ask others about their life. Their experience. Their opinions. Asking things like that, instead of educational questions, affirms their dignity and validates their worth as a person. It shows you care about them. And hopefully you will start to see people less as they and them. And more as your friends and peers.
I know I listed a lot of books earlier but Black and White by Hadra and Hambrick is another great book that shows how vital it is for us to engage in relationships to help shift our worldview. But having these conversations requires us to have a diverse group of people in our lives to have these types of conversations with.
What if your life is not that diverse?
It’s hard to imagine that you don’t have a coworker who doesn’t look like you. Or a neighbor. But maybe you don’t. And that’s a problem worth solving. If that’s the case, I would suggest assessing who the main influencers are in your life and trying to find someone new to speak into you. You have to start somewhere.
ACTION
We have to act. And if you’re a Christian you probably know that James 2:26 says Faith without works is dead. So what are some tangible things that you do beyond having conversations with others and posting on social media?
First and foremost, you can address microaggressions and ignorant comments whenever you hear them by calling the person out. We all must be able to identify the subtle racist undertones and not let them go unnoticed, or worse unchallenged, when we hear them. When someone makes those remarks, think of the hurt suffered by others who aren’t around to defend themselves and stand up for them. Will it be awkward? Maybe. Is it necessary? Absolutely.
Also, if you’re white and a person with influence or authority at your job or in your community, take a look at who else is sitting at the table with you when making decisions. And if you notice only one specific demographic present at the table or if any demographic is underrepresented or absent from the table, ask yourself why that is. Is it happening intentionally or unintentionally? Are there others who have been excluded and should be present? Then, act by advocating for those missing so their voice and perspective is considered when decisions are being made, especially when those decisions affect them.
You can always start your own organization if you’re up for the challenge but you can also get involved as a volunteer with local organizations that are already active. And you can spread their influence by telling others and attending their gatherings. If you’re in Atlanta you can check out OneRace and attend their upcoming gathering to honor Juneteenth.
Voting is a must when it comes to action, but you can also act outside of voting windows by writing to your state representatives to show them you’re paying attention. And to ask them what they plan to do if elected to another term (or even right now!) to address issues. You can lobby for new legislation for things like new police enforcement tactics or for the restoration of voting rights for those who have been disenfranchised.
And especially pay attention to local elections for things like sheriffs, mayors, district attorneys, and others. If you’re a parent, talk to your child’s principal and teachers about the achievement gap and what they’re doing to address it and bring it up when school board members are running for election.
Or you can start your own blog or write your own book. There’s so much you can do.
This is certainly not meant to be an exhaustive list. But I hope it provides options for how to go about educating yourself, preparing for and actually having conversations, and visibly acting in ways to raise awareness and call for change. Maybe you don’t need suggestions, though. Maybe you already have your own ideas and are already doing something that I left out. If so, that’s awesome and hope you’ll share your ideas.
It’s also incredibly important to understand that the fight for social justice is not limited to race solely in terms of black and white. Yes, it’s true that recent national events certainly are relevant to the Black Lives Matter movement, specifically related to police brutality. But law enforcement is not the only fight to consider, even by BLM. Injustice takes on many forms. It includes the wealth gap. It includes educational access and resources. It includes the judicial system and the mass incarceration of people of color. And it involves going beyond thinking in terms of black and white. Equality and justice for all means considering people based on gender, social class, sexual orientation, etc.
At the very least, I hope that you’ll consider the gravity of what we’re all experiencing. And I hope you won’t let the momentum of this moment pass you by before you commit to the cause by taking a step. Just one step.
Because no matter where we are on our journey, there’s always something we can do.
What about you? Will you continue to advocate and fight for justice? What’s your next step?
And, more importantly, will you take it?