-Isms should be uncomfortable. Labeling something as a 'bias' or prejudice does not make it less #racist, #sexist, #homophobic, #ageist, #ableist, etc. Recognizing your own racism, sexism, homophobia - your own -ism, is the first step to fighting it
#diversity #inclusion 1/
#diversity #inclusion 1/
Sugar-coating these words to make them more comfortable to work with does us no favors.
Back story:
During the Ignite pre-day I was very open about recognizing my own bias, specifically my own racism. I understand that it exists & I actively work against that conditioning. 2/
Back story:
During the Ignite pre-day I was very open about recognizing my own bias, specifically my own racism. I understand that it exists & I actively work against that conditioning. 2/
It is conditioning. And exists in most of us. I was just willing to admit to it in an open forum. It's sad that instead of asking how we can all get to a place where we are admitting to & working against our own isms, people get hung up on the admission & label me "a racist" 3/
Like some sort of dirty word. A sad state, to be sure. We all have bias, regardless of how it's labeled to make you feel comfortable with saying it. We can't fix it if we aren't willing to admit it's there in the first place. 4/
Look at our media, our toys, our movies. Do you know how hard it is to find a Black baby doll? How many movies paint Blacks and Latinos as gangbangers? Look at our justice system! A Black man gets sentenced to life for doing the same thing that a white man gets 3 months for! 5/
And here we are. The majority of us simply shaking our heads or watching on silently. Doing nothing to fix it. Hell. We are in denial. We can't even admit it to ourselves! But we can cast stones, no problem. Smh. 6/
So here is what I have to say to you all. I have a sister who is Black. And I recognize the differences in how she & I are both treated. I recognize the opportunities that I have been given and she has not. I recognize that when I have a thought that judges the way she speaks 7/
That this is bias. That this is prejudice. That this is RACISM. And to be sure, I will do everything I can to eradicate it from my mind, the way I think, and the way I interact with her and others. Not just because I love her, and I do. But because it's the right thing to do. 8/
And I am not afraid. Not of you. Not of your judgement. Not of your censorship. Because staying silent on these issues will only allow them to continue unchecked. Wake up, people. And #StayWoke 9/9
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