Whew,  We have endured a challenging year. COVID-19, International Social Unrest, Democracy under attack, then 2 of our own are accosted….

As a woman of color my analogy of events in 2020 culminate as a tourniquet tied to cut off racist, sexist, homophobic venom is strangling my hope in equality.

Our country’s cultural principles of causation reek of rotten progressive infectious injustices that fester in the -ism’s.  I feel it and see it with my eyes closed.  Now one of our own TAG Advisory Board Members, Keyon Harrold and his son, Key Minor, has experienced it up close and personal when they were accosted in a racist, senseless, physical and mental assault, — an assault that will change a 14-year-old young man’s life forever.  Frustrated and angry, I welcome my tourniquet’s ability to swap life (thriving optimistically) for limb (numb existence).

Upon talking to Key post-assault, I was so thankful that he and his son survived the encounter (Emmett Till murdered at 14, disproportionately black (32%) victims with a fatality rate 2.8 times higher among blacks than whites killed by police.  Among unarmed victims, Black people were killed at three times the rate.)

In reflection, I am conflicted that the fact that the assault occurred did not surprise me.  Disheartened by my negative energy, I assess my exposure and vulnerability; I understand the symbolic tourniquet provided the numbness to trauma that people of color invoke in our daily lives.  I recognize the false sense of security in my belief that random racist occurrences (the odds) protected my loved ones from ever-present systemic racism.  For too many people of color, our current state of existing promotes sacrificing peacefulness by becoming accustomed to and anticipating madness.

In my processing, I know that my tourniquet, reactively tightening to ever-present venom, is not the remedy. Stopping the venom is how we will thrive.  To thrive, we must have an awakening of conscience.  We must personally–deliberately –seek to expose and erode systemic racism. We must face the reality that widespread systemic racism exists and create antidotes for the venom that do not strangle life.

Keyon Harrold is a spirited, exceptional young man, near and dear to my heart.  I’m angry that he and his son were subjected to hate, rage, physical assault, false judgement, distress and racism.  He and his son were accosted, because they are Black men and our world does not value people of color as highly as our white counterparts. When a 14-year-old is “tackled” with this reality, we can no longer sustain, in a naïve complicit state, that this happens to “other people”.

Recognizing that being angry is not the best use of my energy, I ponder on the wisdom of Dr. Toni Morrison, “What can I do from where I am?”

I must acknowledge that racist, sexist, homophobic encounters are common, accepted, active parts of our culture that do not fit in a neat box.

Thus:

• I can no longer minimize the residual effects of such incidents and culture.
• I must fight for equality (not just for my loved ones).
• I cannot find solace in my lifestyle’s false sense of security.
• I must realize that humanity loses, and no one thrives if we do not counteract deep seeded systemic racism and social injustices by creating healthier, just, more inclusive People Matter antidotes.
• I must heighten my voice
• I must rally around just causes.
• I must empower the downtrodden.
• I cannot be numb or defeated; I must drive TAG’s vison

Join me and renew your call to action.

Align: acknowledge with compassion that we have progressive debilitating problems with systemic racism and social injustices in our homes, our communities, our country, our world.

Awareness: seek understanding beyond those who think and look like you

Stop being Complicit: scrutinize your position, feel and stand in what you know is right

TAG In: commit to create healthier, just, more inclusive People Matter Cultures.

I invite you to review the following perspectives, optimistic they lead you to impactfully TAG in to erode systemic racism and social injustices.

From the mouth of the most infringed: Daniela Gonyoe recites her poem “My History”

1. What is an Ally (from a White Person’s Perspective)? “Spark Documentary”
2. “I Am Not Your Negro” (Available on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime)
3. “Between the World and Me” (Available on HBOMAX)

Sincerely,