Black lives do matter. Police brutality does exist. Injustice and racism not only exist, they comingle to make a deadly brew.
Those of us not counted in a racial minority, are duty bound to change the course of history. Our history. All of ours.
We say we are one thing, but actions done in our name belong to us. Whether we agree with it or not, injustice has a target but no clear owner. That’s when we have to step up to change it.
My ancestors came from England. They were protestants and escaped the king’s state religion. They came, too, with anti-slavery sentiment. Once in the colonies, they became abolitionists. Yes, they fought against slavery in the early days of the 1600’s. You know their names – Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry Ward Beecher, and many others.
Northerners in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New York (New Amsterdam in those days), family helped shape an open society that came to be heralded in the new constitution. But slavery reigned in the southern regions, and the economic goods of that area fueled the growth of our new nation. Abolitionist or not, slavery benefited everyone but the slaves.
And we own it because of that.
What we do about that today I don’t know. Certainly, change of laws and institutions must be made to undo the bad that has been done. Native Americans and Black Americans are owed not only our apologies, but our commitment to make life fuller. Now. Maybe those actions include reparations in the form of cash or something else. I don’t know. I am open to workable suggestions.
One thing that must change, however, is our heart. We must know, feel and act differently than we have in the past. Regardless of your heritage or your good intentions, we must all be a part of the change and fresh investment in Black Lives Matter, and Native America reparations as well.
At the very least, let’s begin this conversation. Much healing needs doing.
June 9, 2020
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