Just Try…

To those who look like me:

It's okay to be wrong. It's okay to not know. Just try.

During my lifetime, I was taught to be colorblind. To not see color. To tread lightly, very lightly, when considering discussing race. The possibility of mentioning skin tone and the differences it creates with those that didn't look like me was intensely taboo. Mostly because we were anxious and scared to offend. But regardless of how society was trying to mold me, I did see color. I noticed differences. But I also recognized more similarities than not.

Los blancos need to take a hard look in the mirror. We are offensive through microaggressions and unconscious oppression and oppressive by having built systems that allow us to keep more for ourselves and withhold opportunities from others. Have you ever heard that phrase "Silence is Violence"? That's exactly what it's referring to. Ignoring color differences and what that means just maintains the status quo, which is not who we are at the core. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

But do we?  

Please watch this <1 minute video.

Alright, so imagine beginning something new. It can be exercising, making healthier food choices, reading more, completing a thousand piece puzzle, learning a new skill, starting a new job, becoming a parent, or in my case recently - learning a new language. There is one thing in common. The beginning is hard. Tiring. Endless unknowing. It's unnerving, shaky, and overwhelming at times. But you did that first step and soon following you receive some type of positive feedback: you become stronger, you have more energy, you have the outer edge complete, you now know how to thread the sewing machine, your baby gives you a smile, or you can order your meal, "Yo queiro dos tacos con carne y margarita, por favor."

From my experience, the privileged group tend to think that if the system changes they'll become the oppressed. When in fact, that's just their fear/racism (xenophobia, homophobia, etc.) talking. What antiracism and equity work does is remove barriers for those systematically oppressed for them to have the same opportunities you're accustomed to without actually affecting you negatively. Everything in your life will remain, the only thing you'll lose is your privilege. Is it so bad having an equal playing field?

Speaking of which, imagine two professional baseball teams playing one another. One team is properly equipped with the top of the line sports equipment, coaches, medics in case of injury, nourishing refreshments, and a supportive audience that is able to attend and cheer? The other team is without equipment to play the game, uniforms, a dugout, immediate and thorough medical access, pre-game nourishment, and not as many fans able to get into the seats. How do all of these adjustments do anything negative to the properly equipped team? It doesn’t. It just removes barriers and gives the other team a BETTER SHOT at playing the game. This is what equity education and work strive for.

So, I beg of you friends - just try. Take the first step and start. You're going to be uncomfortable. You're going to make mistakes. I have made mistakes. And so have my peers. But if your heart is in the right place, you'll be just fine. Maybe a little bruised ego. But man, all things considering - that's NOTHING compared to what we've done to others. So if you're in it to the do the work for real, and you make a mistake, all you have to do is be willing to be corrected.  Listen. Learn. Read. Ask. Connect.

 Just do better next time. It really is that simple.

 The same as when you try putting two puzzle pieces together and they don't fit. Or your new manager realizes that you may need some additional training on something. Or the baby cries even if you changed and fed them already. Or you need to pull out that uneven stitch. Or you conjugate a verb wrong. It's okay.  It's okay to be wrong. It's okay to not know. Just try. You WILL get stronger, you will be corrected less often, you will become a mentor to someone else. You will be part of the solution. You will be on the right side of history.

 Just try. People's lives depend on it.