“Journey to Allyship”

∾ 4/30/21 ∾

Life’s journey and experience create many stories for each of us. This story is one of my many stories. It has been an experience for which the anguish, like for so many, burst forth this year and can no longer be contained within.

Facing my white privilege while navigating the world with my beautiful black family has meant necessary and profound learning over the past 23 years. Standing shoulder to shoulder with mothers of black children, I am living with deep empathy, fear, and pain.

I was recently asked: “How does racism make you feel?”
My reply…. It’s like a daily gut punch. I feel so many things:
Shame that my ancestors did this
Fear for my family
Frustration at societal systems and ignorance
Guilt that the fight never seems to be enough
Uncomfortable knowing my skin color creates assumptions in others too
Desperate to express that’s not who I am
Immediately mindful that it's not about me
But I remain hopeful for future generations while I seek to be an active ally and plead for allyship from others.
Hopefully, this story is a part of that active work.
Humanity, kindness, and empathy remind us that we are all one human race – each of us deserving love, respect, equity, and equality.

Music composed by: Carlos Thomas