My brain is constantly thinking about how I can help SLPs feel better.
As a white, middle aged woman I have that luxury.
I don’t have the mental load of
…Looking suspicious, being pulled over, being questioned, telling my children to act a certain way around certain people,
My two little girls are mixed Caucasian and Hispanic Puerto Rican.
My husband says he’s relieved they don’t look like him- he doesn’t want them to experience racism like he has.
We are witnessing horrific violence against black people…
- A white woman calling the police because, while birdwatching in the park, Christian Cooper, a black man, asked her to put her dog on the leash. In response the white woman said she would call the police and say “an African American man was threatening her life.”
- A video of George Floyd gasping and pleading “I can’t breathe” as a cop pressed all of his weight on his neck.
- The death of Beonna Taylor who was shot at and hit at least 8 times by law enforcement who were issued a ‘no knock” warrant. No drugs were found.
- Ahmaud Arbery, went for jog near his suburban home, was watched, followed and killed by three neighborhood “vigilantes” including a retired police officer/ investigator. The investigation took longer because the district attorney (who had worked with the suspects) stated there was not enough probably cause to arrest before being forced to relinquish the case. I’ve heard this called the “wall of blue.”
I looked up the word witness and some synonyms for witness are: validate, endorse, support
I spent the morning doing some research and learning so that I could write this small note to you today- instead of being a “witness” and sending the newsletter I had already written. I stopped and changed everything.
One morning, It’s the tiniest, minute thing I could do
I certainly don’t want to sit here and try to “whitesplain” what is happening in the world-
BUT I will NOT be silent because it’s….uncomfortable
SLPs, We are leaders, teachers, and healers…
WE MUST DO BETTER
Here are a few ways I can think of ….There are so many more -on so many levels-and I’m certainly no expert
1. Acknowledge and understand your own biases and prejudice.
Sure its easy to see blatant prejudice in white supremacist, racist, outwardly hateful person.
BUT if you are a human being with a brain – YOU have bias and prejudice. No, it doesn’t make you a bad person. Yes, it can feel shameful and squirmy to look at something like this in ourselves, but don’t hide them by saying things like “all lives matter” and “I don’t see color.” Sit with your journal and just let yourself be aware of the ugly thoughts you have. YES we all have them- but if you hide them, they actually get bigger and can come out in the sneakiest ways.
2. Talk to your own children and your students about race and racism. Be thoughtful about the materials and resources you use in therapy. I feel shame and super uncomfortable just trying to bring up the topic, but it’s okay, we can experience discomfort. Think about it, THAT won’t kill us.
3. Untangle the lie of scarcity. Specifically lifting up someone else, doesn’t mean you get less. It creates more “lifting up” in the world -exponentially. Continually developing an abundance mindset brings us together. Scarcity separates us.
4. Educate yourself about Systematic Racism. Don’t expect others to educate you. Be open to doing the work of learning about white supremacy and white privilege yourself. Always evaluate your sources and keep your own bias in mind.
5. DO NOT be a conduit of silence and neutrality for this system to continue. You must acknowledge racism and be overtly against it...
I’m learning, I’m listening
It’s uncomfortable… My thoughts: Someone might get mad at me, I might say the wrong thing, approach it the wrong way, I might sound clueless, I might look stupid... and so much more
But I’m sending it anyway
It’s the very least I can do
As always, so many hugs and love
Angie
