Know better, do better.
"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." ~ Dr. Maya Angelou
In 2020, when the world shut down due to the global pandemic and then cracked open with the murder of George Floyd, so many people began what my friend Sara would call a "learning journey" into the underbelly of America. It was as if a light switch was flipped and people suddenly wanted to understand what they'd missed.
I'm struggling while I type this to avoid saying "you" or "we" - as some of this is cross applicable and some of it isn't. Take what applies and leave the rest.
Along the journey, study groups arose, resources were promised and many acts of solidarity were performed.
As soon as it was safe to go outside - as soon as the world returned to "normal" - as soon as people began to experience equity fatigue or unbearable guilt - as soon as people thought they were no longer being observed for their improvements - people quit.
Meanwhile the darkness encroached on the light and the lightbearers tried to keep shining and the light began to dim and now even the lightbearers are searching for the light. And it feels dark.
Reader, lemme tell you what ain't go'n help the light come back - no GOTdayum blue bracelet . . . that ain't it!
Rest if you need to. I need to.
And then - let's get back to work.
What does the work look like?
- Learning about our own personal equity knowledge gaps - so that we are treating other humans with decency and respect AND so that we are not contributing to harmful systems
- Understanding the US Constitution and the rights that are currently intact for as long as they remain
- Dig in to our local and state politics and as Mr. Rogers would say, "find the helpers."
- Feed the happy - because we can hold contrasting emotions in the same space and we must in order to survive.
