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Mom to Mom: Waking up to Black Lives Matter

My white family — my husband, our three daughters (ages 4, 4 and 7) and me — live in Minneapolis, not far from where George Floyd was murdered. In the days after it happened, my husband and I watched the news in horror, unable to understand why another atrocious act of pure racism could happen to yet another innocent black man — at the hands of the police, once again. 

Not unlike the rest of America, George Floyd’s death hit us hard. Not only did this awful thing happen in our city, by our police, but watching a man plead for his life, call for his mother and gasp for air while several onlookers begged the former cop (I’m making a conscious choice not to use his name — he’s not worthy of it) to remove his knee from Floyd’s neck was unbearable.  

While I wish that this atrocity hadn’t happened at all — and that we lived in a country where racial injustices and prejudices weren’t an everyday reality — I’m glad it was caught on camera (imagine all the racist incidents we DON’T get to see). Like many other Americans, I’ve known racism runs rampant in our country; yet it’s been easy for me — a white woman — to remain blissfully unaware of the complete unfairness, brutality and discrimination people of color face on a daily basis

Growing up, my parents rightfully taught me that all humans are created equal, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. But that’s as far as it went. We never discussed the roots of racial injustice; how societal segregation plays a role in preventing people of color from attending the more highly funded schools in “better” and more coveted neighborhoods; how systemic racism traps people of color in a completely unfair and disadvantaged system that’s nearly impossible to break free of. I don’t blame them — they didn’t have the knowledge or tools to take these conversations further.

I also never began to understand the concept of white privilege until my early thirties when, during my training in marriage and family therapy, I took a class on diversity and privilege. My professor, a black man, was the first person to open my eyes to all the benefits and privileges I, by default, get just because of the color of my skin. He made me see that, unlike him, I don’t have to worry about a store owner thinking that I’m stealing from him; I don’t have to fear getting arrested — or even worse, getting killed! — when a cop pulls me over for speeding; and when I’m walking down the street, I’ve never experienced people crossing the street because the color of my skin makes them uncomfortable or nervous.

I also hadn’t realized that all this time, even though I pride myself on treating everyone with fairness, kindness and respect, I’d been “colorblind” — rather than seeing color, I just wanted to see everyone as human; and rather than trying to truly understand the discrimination people of color endure, I went through life enjoying the fruits of my white privilege and assuming that everyone around me (regardless of skin color) had the same opportunities and experiences. I didn’t realize that despite what I’d always thought about myself, I was actually PART OF THE PROBLEM.

You see, being “colorblind,” though well-intentioned, is actually just being complicit.

“Colorblindness creates a society that denies [people of color’s] negative racial experiences, rejects their cultural heritage, and invalidates their unique perspectives.”

Psychology Today

Being colorblind is the not-so distant cousin of racism.

I now understand that regardless of how uncomfortable it may be, it’s imperative that we SEE, appreciate, and work hard to understand and validate everyone’s heritage, culture, set of circumstances and experiences. 

Was I non-racist? Sure. But in no way, shape or form was I acting anti-racist

Our white children need to know that systemic racism is well and very much alive, and people of color are still treated incredibly unfairly. They need to know that there are people who believe that America should only consist of white people, and who seek to hurt people of color and those who help stand up for and protect them. 

Our visit to George Floyd’s memorial was incredibly moving. People from all walks of life were there, paying their respects to him and his life. My girls couldn’t get over the amount of flowers, beautiful and poignant murals, signs and notes. 

As we stood there staring at this beautiful ever-growing memorial to George Floyd, the tears poured from my eyes. It was incredibly powerful and moving to witness the place where this horrible incident occurred and to see all the people — soooo many people — who had, just like us, come there to pay their respects, to help and donate, to paint stunning murals, to uplift the crowd in song and dance and, most importantly, to be ALLIES… to finally stand UP and say, “I understand that I don’t understand… but I’m no longer going to be passive!” It doesn’t stop there, of course, but there’s power in showing up in numbers! 

White people: we have to show up.

We have to raise humans whose eyes are open, and who are aware not only of others’ disadvantages, but also of their own privileges. To try to begin to understand the pain of 400 years of torture, persecution and oppression of an entire race of people. And rather than just accepting that reality as “what is,” I want to make a concerted effort to contribute in raising the next generation of change. This has to stop with us and we have to start (like, really start) now.

Comments

  1. Avatar of Erika

    This was a powerful piece. I resonate deeply with the messages about growing up learning to see all people equally and worthy of kindness, only to realize that this colorblind approach is actually contributing to the problem. Thank you for your reflections.

  2. Avatar of HA

    Thanks for being brave enough to write this article. I am a black female physician from a lower socioeconomic background. I fully understand not being “handed” the necessary tools to succeed in life and the challenges all black Americans face. I 100% agree with you and appreciate you standing in solidarity with the black community. It’s beautiful that you as well as many other people understand that being anti racist and not just passively non racist is the key! We need and appreciate all people’s help to right injustices! Keep being a great mom and a great human. Please continuing spreading knowledge! #Strong Work America!!!!

  3. Avatar of Carolyn Salcido

    Fantastic. Thank you so much for writing this and helping articulate what many of we white moms are feeling right now. I have always thought so highly of Lucie’s List, and the fact that you are addressing this so thoughtfully only makes me love you guys more. Keep up the good work, and please, keep writing! My twins are almost 2 1/2 years old, and I have lived by your advice thus far!

  4. Avatar of Shavavian

    As a black woman, I love this. It’s well written and thoughtful, far from any of the ignorant drivel I’ve seen recently. Thank you for being willing to try.

  5. Avatar of Leni Windle

    Thank you for this article. I think many of us are waking up to the reality of the country we White people thought we have been living in is a bit of a fantasy. Fantasies about our history, about the revered Founding Fathers, about why many of us white people have so much while so many People of Color struggle. I want to suggest the 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge. Sadly I am not tech savvy enough to copy and past the link but if you google eddiemoorejr.com you can find the link. PS our daughter and her family also live in Minneapolis, four blocks from where George Floyd was murdered. It’s a painful time.

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