These videos were incredibly impactful for me. Two things in particular stood out.
In the video "A Conversation with Native Americans," I was struck by the observation that Native folks are the only ones we require to 'prove' their heritage using a bloodline. The analogy that was used - that it's similar to tracing bloodlines of purebred dogs and horses - hit me hard. What more striking proof that we treat BIPOC like animals than pointing that out?
The second piece that resonated with me was a moment from the "Growing Up Black" video. A TEN YEAR OLD BOY said that if he could tell the world one thing, it would be that he is not bad and will not hurt anyway. That message has been internalized by the age of ten. Our white children certainly do not grow up having to defend their existence and prove that they are good and harmless individuals.
I plan to share these videos and engage my peers in conversations about lived experiences.
