I've said it many times before, and I hope it is not taken too lightly, but at the core of everything we are a human race sharing one home, planet earth. Let's start with that truth. Would anyone disagree with that?
And if anyone had a life or death situation and needed a blood transfusion to live, I don't know anyone who would stop the surgeon to review the background (i.e race) of the blood donor. Do you?
That said. I've heard many non-blacks ask people of color what can they do to help teach their children about racism?
If one sits back quietly, it becomes easy to see the question is faulty. "Racism" is built into the equation so ultimately it will exist in the outcome.
The real question is how can we teach our children to love and respect every human being as if they were a family member? I know the question does not yet seem perfect as many of us don't like certain members of our family. But the truth of the matter is that most, if not all, of us love our family. We just don't like some of their ways.
Honestly, I must admit, I have often had a problem with that as I came to notice how many people don't love themselves! So how could they love and respect me? They couldn't.
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.Leviticus 19:17-18
So at the root of the situation, we find that many people simply do not love themselves. Many parents can't teach this as they are beating themselves up daily about their spouse, their past, their thighs, their grey or thin hair, job insecurity or lack of financial increase or stability for that matter.
And of course there is the false photo shop social media beauty and lifestyle images so many people strive for that don't actually exist. It all takes work, and it all begins with self-love and acceptance .Not all parents had self love, or were loved properly to pass it along.
In addition, most schools (school books) teach "skewed" history which has built in biases of white European heroes. Many of the school book images still lack diversity. They don't reflect the colorful world as it is.
This subconsciously teaches youth that only the images they see in books, movies, toys and games matter. Those you don't see, don't matter. Clearly, that is not so. Never the less, that is the message.
The truth is that this world was developed by a multitude of known, and mostly unknown and forgotten heroes and heroines of all races. Many of us have family members that made major contributions to their family, communities and society the world over that first need to be remembered and celebrated at home.
Teachers can ask students who their family heroes are. Where is your family from? Who made a significant difference for your family? That starts the conversation to seek the good ON PURPOSE. It starts at home.
In doing so, it shifts parents' paradigm who previously may have only seen life (including themselves and their children) from a mean and ugly perspective to one of hope and possibilities. It starts the process of cleaning the mirror in front of them as well as the rear view mirror.
We (as a society) are very frivolous about the "value" of human life overall. Have sex. Get pregnant. Don't want it? No problem...
"It" being that beautiful human God is creating to help bring light into a selfish dark world.I believe the future will look back and bare witness to the overall careless insensitivity that our society handled such matters.
Think I'm exaggerating? Consider the Roman Colosseum. People gathered to watch hungry lions chase and tear apart certain people in the Amphitheater for sport. Several times in one day. Today, we would call that barbaric. Right?
Before cameras with smart phones certain white men with pick up trucks chased down and murdered black men for sport and even while certain police officers "looked out" while they did so like hunting season (See Ahmaud Aubrey). More have not been caught on camera than have, but God sees all. Until George Floyd, it was called "self-defense".
Hollywood movies and gaming are no better. The emphasis is on violence on almost every screen in every genre. Violence has almost become a required film success formula. Sex and violence sells tickets.
It's rare to see people flinch at violent scenes on screen. In most cases it's applauded. The audience watches in anticipation while chewing excitedly on buttered popcorn and sipping bubbly soda.
What does that say about us as a society? What message are you (we) sending your (our) children?
Little do they know that the subconscious mind perceives EVERYTHING it takes in as factual. So youth (and adults) are unconsciously forming biases and callous responses to the loss of human life (real or imagined).
Toddlers and mothers are being ripped apart at the US (ICE) border with no way of reuniting them as families seek sanctuary. This happened in Germany before the Holocaust. It all matters. If you don't disrupt bad behavior, it gets emboldened. History left unchecked repeats itself.
If you want it (violence) to stop, then stop participating. These entities are filling the appetite of the masses.
Seek, demand and teach good values. Youth will then seek the good in themselves and others.
They will write a better history because they will not be working from a bitter past. The past is where they (we will) go to learn lessons so as not to repeat mistakes, but most of all to learn and gain a healthy objective perspective. I hope this helps.
Help affirm the positive. "Let there BE LIGHT. Let there BE JUSTICE. Let there BE PEACE."
Sincerely,
LeTicia Lee
Author of My Love is One (now also a documentary)
