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Why are we resistant to engaging in conversations about race? Too many of us avoid talking about race similarly to avoiding a plague. This moment in history requires us to respond to a pandemic while acknowledging the rampant inequities that catapulted to the forefront, but that have always been here. History itself presents recycled opportunities for us to actionably respond to the array of inequities, yet to date, our collective behavior seems to accept the inequities and injustices as an agreeable status quo.
Given this context, we persist with knowingly missing multiple calls to action, beginning with the necessary conversation about race. In general, maybe we can get away with avoiding the conversation, because we have avoided the conversation thus far at the expense of disenfranchised groups of people. This is not okay, and it never will be. As an educator, I have facilitated ongoing conversations about race, because we must not continue to avoid the conversation at our young people’s expense. We must accept the fact that race is a significant variable that we too often pretend doesn’t matter, but it does!
Avoiding courageous conversations about race does not preserve us as benign beings in a powerful nation that was built on the foundation of white supremacy. Moreover, this mighty nation was built on stolen indigenous land by enslaved people of color. The historical context is quite explicit, leaving a perplexing void regarding the overwhelming resistance to engage in one of the most basic forms of communication, a conversation about race and its relevance in our lives. We go so far as to minimize our lived experiences that have proven beneficial or detrimental based on race. The fact is race matters.
Are we afraid to engage in conversations about race? Fear should never prove as an excuse to not begin the necessary ongoing dialogue. Whether you are afraid or not, engage in conversations about race with responsible resources and tools. As people, we make assumptions, impose preconceived notions, reinforce negative stereotypes, propagate deficit narratives, and so on, based on race. Talking about race will contribute to building our capacity to not only acknowledge delicate and complex issues, while working together to plan and implement promising solutions, but to ultimately ripen our journeys to embrace healing.
