antiracist

Shining some light on a dark subject...racism.

I have been deeply saddened by the young Black men being shot by White men, who don't seem to be suffering any consequences. Then, I saw Netflix's "13th" which pointed out that 2 out of 3 inmates are African-American. This is NOT okay!

My book club thought we should read about race relations. I just finished "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" By Beverly Daniel Tatum. I had asked myself the same question when I went to college at Syracuse University. According to Ms. Tatum, as we develop our sense of identity, we seek out others who understand us, who share similar experiences. White kids don't encounter racism and so cannot relate to what Black kids experience.

And this doesn't necessarily end. Throughout our lives, we continually mold our identity. So, many people stay within their groups, for comfort level. People like me prefer to find a more diverse group of friends. But it isn't easy. I remember a neighborhood block party where I noticed 3 distinct groups - White, Black and Hispanic. I was not brave enough to introduce myself to a different group. Fortunately, my apartment building was racially mixed, as were our art exhibits, and I made some genuine friends outside my race.

But it is not enough to think and behave antiracist, we must do something to stop racism. Ms. Tatum wrote, "the role of the ally is not to help victims of racism, but to speak up against systems of oppression and to challenge other Whites to do the same." p 109 

So, this is my first step. We need to find our sphere of influence and speak out against racism, to recognize our White privilege and use that strength to interrupt the cycle of oppression that began with slavery and continues today in other forms.

Are you with me?

If you’re interested in reading I found this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/16-books-about-race-that-every-white-person-should-read_us_565f37e8e4b08e945fedaf49?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004

opposing views

Shining some light on a darker issue…
I have been trying to understand some political issues from the conservative side. I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called "Targeted." It spells out many ideas held by pro-gun groups (gun enthusiasts?).
It was very educational. The most important idea I came across is that pro-gun people believe that our right to bear arms is a way to keep the government in check. If citizens have guns, the government cannot overtake us. I heard – if the government makes all the rules, they get all the guns. If the government disarms us, it is a way to gain control over the people. I heard – there is no "gun control" – there is only "people control."
So I am understanding that pro-gun groups consider gun restrictions as limiting their power to keep the government in check. I can follow the logic, though I don't understand why some limits are offensive. What's wrong with background checks? What's wrong with keeping guns out of the hands of people with mental illness or past criminal behavior?
Another point that seems valid is when I heard – gun restrictions don't keep guns out of the hands of bad guys. If criminals want guns, government restrictions are not going to stop them. I'm guessing most of the guns used by drug dealers and such are obtained illegally.
I learned that the appeal of the right to carry concealed weapons is that it puts uncertainty into the minds of criminals. If the neighbor on the street can pull a gun to stop a crime, it may be less likely the crime will be committed.
So, now I feel I understand pro-gun people a little better. I still think gun restrictions are a good thing – guns are not being eliminated. We are still a long way from reducing gun violence in our country. But maybe the two sides, pro-gun and anti-gun, can cooperate to find ways to stop criminals. Being understanding and respectful of people with opposing views is the only way to promote compromise and cooperation.