Learning about the history of racism and discrimination in this country is so important, especially for white people including myself. Many of us are unaware of the horrific events of the past, because it did not affect our communities directly. We can therefore continue living in these ignorant bubbles, thinking we are so liberal and not racist. The videos I just watched were not entirely news to me, but I still found them shocking and unsettling. I also learned about events I did not know of before. I again realized how important it is to learn this. Knowing it and understanding its impact on communities of color to this day make us realize the importance of becoming anti-racist and fighting against the structures that maintain racism in this country and the world.
I see that not being a racist is not enough. There are three categories. Racist, non racist and anti-racist. I need to let go of everything I have learned and start over. I cannot sit on the fence and think I am good, because I do not want to feel uncomfortable talking about these things. I do not have to be a violent activist to help make a change. There are a lot of changes that can be made through the power of the written word like articles and poems. A poem from the past written by a black poet, Langston Hughes, describes how he felt America was never America to him even if all his ancestors ever did was help build America through slavery. Changes start with me, then in my home and then in the world. I need to be authentic and sincere in my efforts. Argue like I am right, then listen like I am wrong, and then make the changes necessary.
https://poets.org/poem/let-america-be-america-again