“Words like ‘freedom,’ ‘justice,’ ‘democracy’ are not common concepts; on the contrary, they are rare. People are not born knowing what these are. It takes enormous and, above all, individual effort to arrive at the respect for other people that these words imply.”
James Baldwin
“How do I love thee . . . let me count the ways . . . ”
Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806-1861
“How do I hate thee . . . let us count the ways . . . ”
Gun Violence, Domestic Terrorists, White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis, Facists, Hate Groups (2023)
One lettered with pen in hand – the other with guns.
Each is a choice – both taught and learned.
Gen Zers unapologetically answering the call.
Why the hesitation by white people to engage with white people in difficult and uncomfortable discourse on racism and hate?
Some would argue that the reasons are due to the “teflon effect”, “cognitive dissonance”, “white fragility”, “fear” and a lack of knowledge.
“White on White” conversations can become contentious, uncomfortable and question social-cultural loyalties.
But we are in the 21st century and “White on White” conversations are taking place by choice, with emotional intelligence and moral courage.
Inclusive generational alliances are in motion and a reality.
Schools to my immigrant uneducated parents were “Temples of Learning” and teachers were “Holy”.
The plan was simple – they would sacrifice and I would attend school.
Their past would not dictate my future.
But what they did not realize was that sometimes classrooms can imprison and oppress.
I was not learning but merely surviving – until she appeared . . .
It was 1869 when African American men were allowed to vote.
It was 1929 when women were finally acknowledged as voters.
It was 1965, just 58 years ago, when the Voting Rights Act attempted to end voting discrimination.
It’s the 21st Century and voter suppression remains a reality by politicians who promote obstruction, denialism, division, Big-Little Lies and extremism.
A democracy requires citizens who vote keeping in mind our history, casting their ballot with due diligence, emotional intelligence and moral courage.
Civic duty, in the 21st century, requires risk management as to authenticity, credibility and trust.
Who are the candidates that will enhance the quality of our Democracy and the quality of our lives?
We now have a name for it – Separátocide – The forced separation of children from parent(s) and the caging of children.
The horrific images of traumatized children being separated and imprisoned in cages left many Americans shocked and empty – beyond sorrow.
Citizens began to recognize the politicized fraudulent ideology of the past . . . “solving the immigrant question”.
No, it was not the 1940s but America in the 21st Century.
Conversations about Diversity can be uncomfortable and exasperating.
It is easier to not engage, frustrated by what we don’t know that we don’t know about Diversity.
Unfortunately, ‘Diversity’ has been politicized and weaponized leading to fear, confusion and reluctance to civilly and openly discuss Diversity and its threads.
The Diversity Literacy Galaxy Model provides language, knowledge-bases, and context that can provide opportunities for discourse through introspection, personal growth and change.
“When you want wisdom and insight as badly as you want to breathe, it is then you shall have it. There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse. To express oneself badly is not only faulty as far as the language goes but does some harm to the soul.”
Attributed to Socratic Philosophy
A major obstacle in assimilating and acclimating to a culture is learning its language.
Many Americans take German, French, Spanish or other languages in a learning environment for 2, 3,, 4, even 5 years.
Can they have a fluent conversation with a native speaker without an interpreter?
Learning a second language is an arduous challenge emotionally and psychologically, not in a classroom but when it matters – in real life situations.
It impacts mind, heart and spirit.
“Pretend Reading” differs from culture to culture.
It was a traditional intervention by mothers, who did not have a formal education, but pretended to read to their child.
All it took was some crumbled papers and a mother who would not allow her past to become her child’s future.
Such a nurturer was my mother who never saw the inside of a school.
So she pretended to read to me, by way of the oral tradition, sharing stories of ancestors, elders and traditions.
Love, resiliency and perseverance were always at the core of each story ~ that continue to resonate.