Let’s Talk About Race
Looking out at the current racial climate I see fear, racism, and flat-out ignorance being repeated. A part of it saddens my heart that people are so fearful. Assuming what another person is like because of centuries of demonizing people of color, and the continuous passing down of that ideology. The system is broken and way before our times have taught us to divide and conquer through white supremacy. (This goes way beyond just being a white person or white-passing person please do your own research here to truly understand the definition. )
My family is made up of my Israeli-born father and first-generation European mother. In my household, we ate foods that looked different from the American diet, ate spices and seasoning. Speaking with a thick accent, I was embarrassed by my dad growing up. On Fridays, we practiced rituals with prayers, candles, songs, and drank wine as a form of celebration. My first time visiting the Middle East in Tel-Aviv I went to a wedding where they had a belly-dancer, far different from the puritan culture of the US.
At school it was confusing. I was the only Israeli child at school there were Arabic, Black, White, and a few Asian children so I didn’t know quite where I fit in. When I went to Hebrew school all the kids were white most wealthy (so I didn’t quite find a place here either.) Five of us grew up in a 2 bedroom house right outside of Detroit.
My mom surrounded me with friends and activities that were different from what we experienced in our household. She encouraged me to be me and to always stand up for what was right. Developing a love for the underdog and learning that I may be small in size but mighty in my words. As a Libra, I believed in fairness and often stood up to bullies in our school.
Outside of school, I spent my time with a diverse group of friends some lived in my neighborhood, others lived in the city of Detroit. My favorite times were trying foods from their culture, learning about some of the traditions they practiced and dancing together for hours. Their families became my families. At times there was hesitation to trust but that usually dissolved after spending time together. I saw some friend’s families’ struggles with money and being single mothers which made me develop stronger respect and compassion for some of the things they went through.
As I grew older I watched how segregation played a role in pushing many people apart. Somehow children who were friends in elementary no longer spoke to one another in high school. Many had never had visited each other’s homes or neighborhoods to honor each other differences and get to know each other’s families (in my naïve mind I thought everyone did that.)
In my 30’s I started to understand how much race played a part in our world. How a white supremacist system is used to keep financial gain in the white community and is used to oppress BIPOC in every area of life. How white-passing people and white people do not share the same problems:
- Fear of driving while Black
- Black infant death mortality
-Indigenous land being taken away with no regards for the people who lived there forever
-Unequal education and housing in communities with high ratios of people of color.
These are just a few of the things BIPOC are plagued with every day when they wake up.
As young as the age of 1, I’ve seen the looks my daughter has received, when we would spend time at the park with other families and children. A recent instance occurred where my bonus son almost ran into while walking in a parking lot.
Living in a Black or Brown body does not mean guilty of anything. African culture is full of richness, rituals, and so much that the spiritual community has taken and white-washed. My own time spent in the Black community has been nothing but a well of love and support. In my deepest pains and traumas growing up, I was held by my friends of color and loved in my humanness.
It’s 2021 and we must have hard conversations about race because it’s not going anywhere, we must learn about the true history of the ways BIPOC have been treated that was not taught in traditional schooling, many may need to atone for their ancestors’ actions. There may be things that will be hard to look at. When we discover humanity and compassion we can find a voice to stand next to our Brothers and Sisters of color as freedom fighters.
We are all in the learning process. Here are some references I have found helpful:
Watch
13th by Ava Duvernay-Free On Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8
Amend by Will Smith https://www.netflix.com/title/80219054 found on Netflix
Read
“My Grandmothers Hand” by Resmaa Menakem https://www.amazon.com/My-Grandmothers-Hands-Racialized-Pathway/dp/1942094477/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=my+grandmothers+hands&qid=1620678931&sr=8-1
“Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor” -Layla F Saad https://www.amazon.com/Me-White-Supremacy-Combat-Ancestor/dp/1728209803
