We Stand With Love and the Active Pursuit of Racial Equality . . . Hate Is Not An Option
My Dear Readers -
Personal family challenges, along with the craziness of the heath crisis, have kept me hiding under a rock for the last few weeks. I've been struggling to keep my head above water; getting this newsletter out each week has been about all I could manage. Crawling out from under the rock, I see and feel the unrest in our community and our nation and I cannot be silent.
To my readers of color, I am so, so sorry for all the pain you are experiencing. Personally, I am here, I am listening, and I grieve and stand with you.
A few months back, I was fortunate enough to be contacted by one of my readers -- a woman of color -- who kindly informed me that my stock photos were not representative of our diverse community. We met and she helped me to see that sometimes we don't realize we're projecting biases by the things we don't do. I think it is human nature to gravitate toward things resembling ourselves, but she made me see that if I am publishing something for the community, I have to make a conscious effort to be inclusive. My ignorance of my publication's lack of diversity was not an acceptable excuse. She offered to help me get more reflective images, at her own expense even, and I was humbled by her graciousness (thank you for that gift, Nadine). Do I still slip and get careless, yes; but, I am aware of my short sightedness and am trying to do better.
I hope that if we all make a conscience effort to eradicate our racial biases, that one day it won't have to take any effort at all, that it will become part of our collective consciousness and that there will finally be equality among the human race.
#BlackLivesMatter and none should have had to die in order to wake us up and propel us into action. The pain and suffering our black and brown communities of color have endured over not just this recent period, but hundreds of years, is unconscionable. I am ashamed, dismayed and heartbroken that this is still going on in the 21 Century. The thought that my own ignorance may have contributed to the pain, saddens me to my core. For that, I am so very, very sorry.
My promise to you, my readers of color, is to be proactive . . . if you have concerns, thoughts, comments or suggestions as to how I can better serve you, I want to hear them . . . honest communication is necessary; let's open a dialog.
The people of our nation have been engaging in demonstrations over the last week or so; if peacefully protesting is the way to get things done, then let's keep it up. And if we white folk need to be called on the carpet for our racial ignorance and insensitivity, then call us out. If we have to be uncomfortable for a while then so be it -- it cannot and never will come close to the suffering you have endured at our hand for centuries.
Yours in service, peace, and love . . .
Amanda
