I invite you to read this entire blog and keep an open mind. Notice any emotions, triggers and thoughts that may come up as you continue to read.
My son, who lives in Manhattan, recently returned from a protest in San Francisco. I live in Atlanta, with a 9 pm curfew. I’ve been praying for the right response and the right action for all of humanity, as we look at the injustice black lives have suffered, all around the world.
I have been a proponent for all peoples including black, brown…all colors of the rainbow…women, those of all sexual orientation, sufferers of child abuse, cultural and social complacency…in so many places as I’ve traveled around the world. We are One Humanity. As a lightworker, I choose peace and rise above all the hate…and yet, I understand the pain. I understand the outrage. I am white, so I will never be able to fully appreciate what it means to be persecuted for my skin color.
As a white woman, I have suffered the prejudice of being called a bitch, I’ve been a victim of violence, I have endured sexual harassment, I’ve had to work harder than a man to earn respect…and I’ve also enjoyed having doors opened for me and sometimes feeling a sense of privilege. However, as an American, I have never experienced hatred or felt devalued because of my skin. I have sensed others feeling envious of my position, but never felt that I had to prove myself worthy of life itself. I never had to teach my son to be afraid of “the system” (criminal justice, police, etc.).
When I taught in Malaysia and worked with young Chinese girls, they were told they were not worthy of life. Many baby girls were killed at birth, as part of a systemized culture. The ones I interacted with felt worthless…like second-class citizens. Similarly, Muslims I taught treated women as lower-class and less important than men, according to religious doctrines.
No matter what our beliefs are, there are inherent fears that permeate our consciousness, including those involving people who are not like us. These fears are handed down from generation to generation, until they’re awakened and ended.
We are All Part of Black Lives Matter
We can make a difference in this world if we unite together and demand equality for all, with our voices and our votes—not just in this country, but around the world, so we can live together with love.
I thought this pandemic would bring about social and cultural change. I hoped we would come away with a sense of living in abundance, rather than scarcity. I’d chosen to believe that we could live together, certain about what is most important. I felt confident that we would reach out our hands to our brothers and sisters, and to our planet, with peace, compassion and empathy.
But despite the challenges, I still believe all these things. This is what I stand for, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to break free.
This uprising is an awakening and a symbol of a culmination of so much anxiety and fear in the world. It pains me to know we have to sink to such low places in our humanness, and have so much grief, to make us aware of what is most precious to us all …our lives and our compassion. We want justice for George and those whom he represents. We want justice for all of our slain and persecuted fellow human beings. The way to justice is to be seen, heard, accepted, loved…and to make that choice for ourselves and every one of our brothers and sisters, every day.
Saying Black Lives Matter does not exclude the notion that All Lives Matter; nor does saying All Lives Matter exclude the notion that Black Lives Matter. These mantras are not mutually exclusive.
The conversation right now is shining a light on our black and brown sisters and brothers, and we are called to an awakening of all the prejudices that lie beneath the surface around the world. As James Baldwin says, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” I encourage everyone to ask the tough questions, and then listen to the uncomfortable answers that will challenge our status quo.
Discovering Blocks Around Black Lives Matter, and More
I have been a long-time champion of stepping out of comfort zones, for the purpose of growth. That’s what I’ve done all my life, and it has been my purpose to support people who have not been seen and heard in knowing they make a difference, they matter and they are important. The essence of communication is being vulnerable, telling your truth, showing up and actively listening to others for the purpose of resolving conflict. It can get messy at times, but every upset is an opportunity to know the truth.
Sometimes being vulnerable scares people, but there is safety in telling your truth with compassion. There is depth in living with contribution, integrity and consciousness. We are building a global movement of conscious leaders to empower others to create a win-win world, and you can be part of that movement.
If you’d like to learn more about inherent prejudice, and what you can do to unify your community and the world, register for my next Power Hour, Discovering Your Subconscious Beliefs Around Race and Prejudices, scheduled for Wednesday, July 15th at 7 pm EST. It’s for everyone, of every culture, background and race. We all have limiting beliefs that pertain to others, and they stem from things we were taught by our families, friends, cultures, schools, religions and more. We all have prejudices, and when we uncover them, acknowledge them and find new evidence to disprove them, we can move forward toward united humanity, where no one will have to remind us that we all matter.
