Dear friends,
While this blog is primarily for sharing lifestyle content, I do occasionally use this platform to discuss matters of the heart. Today, I am blogging about the murder of George Floyd. Today, I will not be neutral to this injustice. Today, I am blogging about resources to teach your kids to be anti-racist.
Shortly after Donald Trump got elected, I remember sitting in my car in the driveway of one of my closest friend’s home. I was sobbing about the results of the election and I will never forget her looking at me, with a bewildered expression on her face. She was trying to comfort me but she was genuinely confused about why I was so upset. She said “What do you think is going to happen?” Then it was my turn to look at her with bewilderment because I knew she didn’t get it. She never saw what it meant about what it says about the citizens of America who made the decision to cast a vote for a leader with the characteristics of Donald Trump.
I have been horrified about the murder of George Floyd. And while I know that the overt racism in America is a centuries old plague, his murder – which triggered riots, has shattered me and left me feeling ashamed to be an American. My disappointment in this country that I love so very much, started with the election of Donald Trump, you can read about my reaction HERE. If you are interested, below are links to other issues that I have blogged about.
In my home, there is zero tolerance for racism – needless to say, this applies to every prejudice. My opinion about racism is that children are not born racist, they are taught it. What this means in my home is that there is NOT a lot of discussion about racism because the need simply doesn’t exist. We have however, discussed the murder of George Floyd because we believe that it is vitally important to be vocal about how terribly wrong his death is – and what his death means about our society and how we must play an active role in being anti-racist.
My email and social media has been flooded with information about George Floyd’s death and what we need to do as a society to raise awareness and take action about the importance of being anti-racist. I am sharing information from Melyssa Griffin that resonated with me. It is a good place to start if you are looking for resources to help teach your kids to be anti-racist. For me, it starts in the home. I know that I can positively influence my children. Outside my home, I will continue to speak up against racism, read literature, attend marches, and make donations.
Below is the full article with links to other resources:
How to teach your kids to be Anti-Racist
Angela Davis said, “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” To me, this quote highlights the fact that we can’t consider ourselves part of the solution if we are staying silent about racism — we have to be actively and vocally against it.
You’ve probably seen that we are undergoing a massive revolution when it comes to racial injustice. In your heart, you may want to speak up, but you might not know how to do so or what to say.
I recently asked my Instagram followers what is holding them back from speaking up during such a critical time and I received responses like…
“I don’t feel like I know enough to share helpful information. I don’t want to just repeat someone else.”
“I’m afraid to say the wrong thing.”
“As a white person, I’m not fully aware yet what I can do.”
“What do you do if you’re not American? I want to help, but I feel like it’s not my place.”
“I’m afraid of being shamed or criticized for my lack of knowledge and experiences.”
As a white woman myself, I can empathize with how you’re feeling — the fear, shame, guilt, and confusion about where to begin. But as Desmond Tutu said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
If you are new to this work, but want to learn more, I compiled a medley of guided resources to help you educate yourself on systemic racism, white privilege, and how you can begin to take action and be part of the solution.
You can read the free guide right here.
This guide includes definitions that are important to know, links to helpful articles and books, anti-racist educators to follow, and more. Virtually all of the resources in this guide were created by black and BIPOC leaders (not myself) because their voices are the ones we should be listening to most right now.
I wanted to create this guide because I noticed that so many people in my community want to speak up, but don’t know how, and are overwhelmed with where to start. I hope this guide helps you to begin your journey to understanding the complexities of racism and how you can begin to dismantle it within yourself and the world around you.
And if you’d like to hear more about my personal perspectives on what’s happening in the world right now, I share frequently in my Instagram Stories (you can check the Social Justice highlight for past stories, too).
If you identify as a white person, I believe that the first step is to educate yourself. Read the definitions in the guide. Read the suggested books in the guide. Follow people who are speaking up and learn from them.
Websites that are helpful:
Black Lives Matter
Black Visions Collective
Minnesota Freedom Fund
Loveland Foundation
I know this blog post is different than what I normally send you, but it matters tremendously. Your voice is needed. Your self-education is needed. It’s time to stand up for a better world.
