Listen & Learn
Listen and learn. I have been consumed by this effort for many days now and I’m so happy to report that it is making a difference in me. In just one week I understand more and I feel more confident and more able to initiate conversations and to articulate thoughts, feelings and invitations. Today’s episode is just that, an invitation. I’m so grateful to my friend, Renee Pearson for her generosity during a time of great mourning to speak with me and to share some of her perspective.
My beautiful friend, Renee. Photo taken in 2007 when we travelled together to Australia and New Zealand.
The more we listen and learn about race in our country, the more good we will be able to do and the more we will avoid the tendency to think that we can’t do anything to influence, let alone change injustice that we see. The first action I would love you to take after listening—especially if you are white—is to visit Project Implicit and take a test (or two or more). Here’s the link to the IAT page. From my brief experience on this website, I can tell you that this will be an eye-opening experience. I was not pleased with the outcome of the first test I took, but it gives me a place to start from. As you explore IAT you will better understand what your current associations are, so that you can gain greater perspective.
Resources
If you or your family members need a refresher on Jim Crow laws, please click HERE.
Here’s the PDF of Peggy McIntosh’s article, White Priviledge: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.
This article by Mikki Kashtan has been so helpful to me as I begin digging into the concept of White Privilege.
And the book, pictured here, by Dolly Chugh. Is, along with others on it’s way to me. I know from Reading Dolly’s article in The Harvard Business Review that I am going to rely heavily on her book.
“Each of us have some part of our identity which requires little attention to protecting. For example, in America, if you are white or Christian or able-bodied or straight or English-speaking, these particular identities are easy to forget. It is just an ordinary way of being. Ordinary privilege is ordinary because it blends in with the norms and people around us, and thus, is easily forgotten.
Just about every person in America has one form of this ordinary privilege or another. This is nothing to be ashamed of, or deny, even though it can often feel like an accusation. Ordinary privilege is actually an opportunity. Research repeatedly confirms that those with ordinary privilege have the power to speak up on behalf of those without it, and have particularly effective influence when they do. For so many of us looking for an opportunity to fight bigotry and bias in the workplace or in our broader culture, we may be missing the opportunity staring back at us in the mirror: using the ordinary nature of who we are as a source of extraordinary power.”
Dolly Chugh
Harvard Business Review
So many WONDERFUL resources have been shared via social media over the last week. I encourage you to keep learning with books and podcasts. Renee mentioned both Black Lives Matter and Color of Change—click on either of these links to visit their websites. You can also follow them on Instagram.
I failed to mention, but have LOVED the podcast, First Name Basis by Jasmine Bradshaw. Jasmine’s focus in on giving parents the tools they need to teach their children about race, religion and culture. Jasmine does an amazing job of simplifying and articulating sensitive issues. She shares sound research-based ideas and has so many fantastic suggestions. Please follow Jasmine on Instagram!
🖤 Update: As a small business owner I am ever-grateful for those who support me. We need to look for and support black-owned businesses as much as possible. What little (extra) effort this requires is so worth it as we step up to support our sisters and brothers of color in business. This article will help!
We can do this.
We can use ordinary influence to bring more awareness to these BIG issues and I believe we can absolutely make SMALL changes in our own daily lives that will impact our families, our communities and our ultimately our country.
I shared this statement from Michael Jordan, my niece, Nika’s recent Instagram post, and a post by Russell M. Nelson president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Thank YOU for listening.
As always, I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts!
