Race, Racism and Us.

By Karen and Erica

We are horrified each time we see the murder of George Floyd by police officers charged with protecting him and his community—the most recent of far too many such atrocious acts in this country. We have been around long enough to have experienced this horror before, but the videotape record intensifies the shock. 

We are two white women who cannot pretend to put ourselves in the shoes of black people, to feel the fear they must feel, for themselves and their children as they engage in quotidian pleasures and tasks. We are mothers who can imagine how terrified we would be if our children had to live in mortal fear.

We also cannot pretend that the victims of the racism disease are responsible for its cure. Ending racism is our collective responsibility. We need to understand racism, and to fight it. Enough is enough. 

So what can we do? We wish we could make a moving video, like Nike or Coco Gauff. But we can’t. We see three paths, at the very least. 

• First, in addition to acting with respect towards our fellow humans, we can call out those who don’t. It’s not enough to shake our heads in silent judgment. We must speak up. 

• Second, we must make it a priority to support organizations that are working to combat racism in every corner of our society. A recent study of philanthropy by Echoing Green shows that race is still a factor in who gets what. We can change that by supporting black and Latino led organizations. 

• Third, let’s start taking the steps needed to address the stain of slavery. Obviously, as a country we need to do more, and we need to do it now. We agree with Van Jones, who declared that serious change must at least begin, immediately, in three areas: economics, justice, and policing. At the suggestion of our healthcare colleagues, we would add healthcare inequality, so obvious during this pandemic.

For the last step, we must use our brains and our pocketbooks to effect political change. We need real leaders, in Washington, and in every state and city in the country. The current occupant of the White House has fanned the flames of racism, enabled by the small minded Senators, Congresspeople and jurists who either do not care about the moral and collateral consequences of racism, or who have prioritized their own immediate self interests ahead of the interests of their country. And here we are.

We plan to renew our efforts. Please consider what we might do together, and post any ideas you have.