Committed

I was asked to come up with something for Green HoriZen.

This is what I came up with.

We have had several members of the community asking us to "take a stance."

I actually believe, personally, in the things that I put in this document.

As someone who grew up in a diverse atmosphere, who was taught to love everyone around me, I truly felt that I was anti-racist.

That I had zero issue with prejudice.

That I was WAY ahead of these "morons" who were doing and saying all of this horrible stuff.

I listened to a conversation that Matthew McConaughey.

This man is brilliant and real and humble.

He was speaking to a friend of his, a Black man.

He used the term White Allergies.

This.

This was eye opening.

ALL white people really do have some sort of thought process that goes on in our heads regarding Black people.

Period.

For instance:

A six year old black girl was marching in protest last week. (she was adorably fierce and passionate)

A white mother saw it and said that she has a daughter her age, who didn't even know that these protests were going on.

White Allergies.

Her daughter doesn't know about it because "it doesn't effect her."

"It will make her sad."

"It's scary."

The black girl doesn't have that option.

This IS her life.

The events of late have really opened my eyes to what I am missing in my own.

What can I do different?

I can LISTEN.

Not to respond, but to hear and to learn.

I can advocate.

I can engage.

I can be educated over and over and over again.

I can always do better.