Episode 153 What Am I Doing About It?

Today we enter Week Three of Black History Month. I am moved by all the tributes on television and social media to Black artists, activists, trailblazers and truthsayers. May these tributes be infused in us, not just this month, but throughout the year, throughout our lives. Let us stay aware and awake to the courage and sacrifices made, as we all do our part to contribute to cultivating true racial justice. In honor of Black History Month, I’ve decided to do more inner work on racism in order to face my white privilege and take responsibility on a deeper level to dismantle white supremacy. Author Layla Saad provides a very helpful guide in her book “Me and White Supremacy” as I continue to read and dive into her prompts for meaningful journaling.

Toni Morrison’s powerful words years ago when interviewed by Charlie Rose, took white supremacy to task by emphasizing that racism is a white person’s responsibility to address.“If you can only be tall because somebody is on their knees, then you have a serious problem. And my feeling is white people have a very, very serious problem. And they should start thinking about what they can do about it. Take me out of it.”

Racism is crazy, it is a neurosis, a cancer that will continue to metastasize in this country unless we, white people do our part to face it, be uncomfortable, inconvenienced and take responsibility for dismantling it. We have a serious problem, a very, very serious problem. What are we going to do about it?

One concrete thing I am doing about it is letting the journal prompts from “Me and White Supremacy” take root. Having just completed Week Two in Saad’s book, I was grateful to reflect on the topics of Anti-Blackness, Racial Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation. This book and these journal prompts call me to go within, to stop making it about other people. Who am I? How do I respond? Can I find meaningful ways to engage with other white people about our race, about our responsibility in creating, sustaining and benefiting from white privilege?  Can I stop my mental gymnastics that prevent me from seeing my own race or what my race has done to Black, Indigenous People of Color?

This past year I’ve also added Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), those working for equal justice and prison reform, social justice activists, enlightened political and spiritual leaders, those terrorized by police brutality and white supremacy to my daily Metta meditation. I think of these individuals and groups of people everyday, holding them close to my heart. I typically say these meditations while walking up to the top of Hook Mountain, but if I am not at the mountain, I make sure to say this wherever I am: sitting on my meditation cushion, walking in the woods, by the river, skiing, biking, wherever…

This is a small, humble way I personally take responsibility for my thoughts and beliefs. As Layla Saad says: “Create the change the world needs by creating change within yourself.”I take this very, very serious problem of racism to heart and will continue to create change within myself. May you be inspired to do your inner work.

Check out the links below to hear Toni Morrison’s interview with Charlie Rose and access the book “Me and White Supremacy”. Enjoy the podcast!

Links:
Toni Morrison clip with Charlie Rose
“Me and White Supremacy” by Layla Saad
Good Ancestor Podcast