06/15/2020
To My Brothers and Sisters of Color: My heart has been hurting so much these last several weeks. It’s hurting because of the hate that continues to emerge towards you. It’s hurting because of how people can be so cruel to you simply because you’re not the color of their skin. I’m hurting because I didn’t know sooner. I lament and I listen more. I’m channeling my raw emotions and allowing them to transform me and mold those emotions into loving action. I’m sorry. I raise you up and speak out for you and stand for you when your name is being drug through the mud. I’m on this lifelong journey with you.
To White People: Now is not the time to compare or to hate (and it never will be!). Nor is it the time to bring white issues to light, or to raise white voices that matter right now. This isn’t to say that you’re not important or that you’re not heard. It’s just not the time right now… And this is not the time to pass along hate either. I hear many people who were ignorant and started educating themselves on racial injustice and systemic racism, but in the process, have passed hate along to others who still don’t know. We need to stand firm with our black and brown brothers and sisters, but we also need love and grace for those who are ahead of us and those who are behind us.
Thoughts: There’s no easy fix to this. It’s easy to appease the masses on Instagram and post something quickly. That’s mostly why we haven’t posted anything recently. Instagram is only ONE platform. What matters is what you’re doing with your life and your time and your voice. But what matters more is where will you be a year from now with those things? 5 years from now? 10 years from now? Are you going to fight the good fight for justice and equality? Or is this just a fad to you, or a PR stunt, or does this offend you? You should check yourself and answer honestly. I listen and lament. This is a lifelong journey and we NEED to be on it. And we need to be walking with those who have been on this journey from day one.