Black Lives Matter: Where I stand
Anyone who knows me well knows that I am non-confrontational to a fault. Enneagram people, I’m an Enneagram 9. We LIVE for people-pleasing, calming the waters, and keeping our mouths shut. Those people are nice to be around, but don’t change the world in any big way. I’m over it. To speak out as a white American is uncomfortable, but necessary.
These past weeks have taught me that to have close Black friends is not enough. To feel like you’re colorblind is not enough (and certainly not true for anyone and actually, dangerous). To believe that all men are equal in the eyes of God is not enough, until everyone is equal in the eyes of men. Like it or not, to be American is to be conditioned by a system that has never viewed Blacks and people of color as equal. Here’s the proof:
White men are 30% of the population, but hold 2/3 of the political power. Source
White men are 30% of the population, but make up 90% of sheriffs. Source
For every $100 of white net worth, Black families hold $5.04. Source
Innocent Blacks are about 7 times more likely to be convicted of murder than innocent whites. Source
Black Americans are about 5 times as likely to be incarcerated for drug-related crimes as whites, though Blacks and whites use illegal drugs at about the same rate. Source
I am not ok with any of these statistics. If you’re not either, it’s our work to pick a platform and commit. The disparities and blatant injustice towards our fellow Americans can be dizzying. Instead of sitting back and feeling helpless, pick your platform. It can be anything from criminal justice, diversity in media and entertainment, wage gaps, the list goes on. Donate, volunteer, vote, or at least become eloquent on the topic so you can have more meaningful conversations with those who both agree and disagree.
About the pin. I’ve been given many items from clients over the years and this is one of my favorites. It came from a former flower child’s vest of pins from the 60s. She was trashing them all about 15 years ago. I’m glad I salvaged this one but wish I had saved more! It came out of the archives and went on my bag this week.
