As a middle class white woman I can honestly say that I have never been on the receiving end of racism. In fact, for a long time I didn’t really "see" it because I was not effected by it. I thought I was “not racist” and by being "not racist" I had no role to play in changing things. I thought that by simply “treating everyone the same” I was doing the right thing. However, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, we began to look at race and racism differently in the United States. I began to look at myself differently and came to realize that I have been blinded by my privilege. For example, I have never been afraid that my 16 year old son’s life may be at risk when he is walking home from school or to a park to play basketball. I’ve never been fearful to be pulled over by the police for a minor traffic violation or that I’d be profiled as a run errands in the mostly white suburban neighborhood where I live. This year I have realized that my freedom to live without fear on a daily basis IS my privilege and it is many of your privilege too. I find myself trying to imagine the constant trauma, anxiety and stress that those who are black or brown in America must be feeling. But, I will never be able to fully comprehend these feelings. Instead, I need to be an ally. I need to be vulnerable enough to say that I don’t understand but that I am learning and will continue to learn. Even though a verdict of guilty was rendered in the Derek Chauvin trial on Tuesday, we have a long way to go. We need to be intentional as we continue to support our black and brown students, friends and neighbors. We also need to continue to say the names of other people who have been murdered due to racism. We must work to be anti racist. While we are each just one person, collectively we can make a difference. We have the power to impact the lives of little children every day. We must continue to have courageous conversations about current events, racism, justice and equality. We do not have to have all the answers but we must create a safe place for students to have their voices heard and their feelings validated. I feel like I was very late to the fight against racism, but I'm glad I am part of it now. I'm glad our school is part of it too. We have a long way to go but we have taken the first steps! Let's keep fighting.
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