Race Matters: What we CAN do

Just came back from a summit on “Race matters.”  It was geared to those of us in the child welfare system, including educators, social service providers, judges, lawyers, and organizational leaders.  The point was that while the US has made progress, the absolute fact is that in many ways institutional racism (often unintentional, but real nonetheless) still operates to decrease equality of OPPORTUNITIES for minorities.

We learned about the goal of awareness, and of changing institutional biases through that awareness to reach a higher level of equity, which in the end will create more avenues to higher incomes and better standards of living for minority communities:  NOT  by taking something away from the haves, but through the tools gained by increasing true equality of OPPORTUNITY (more resources for education, health care, etc) adding to the near-nothingness of the have-nots. 

Awareness and education are crucial to dispelling myths and prejudices based on those myths.  It’s a huge task and seems beyond our ability to control.

Leaving I was reminded of the serenity prayer:  "God grant me the courage to change what I can, the serenity to accept what I can’t and the wisdom to know the difference.”  We can’t just wave a wand and make everybody see the whole truth,and  to have a perfect political and social system that reflects that truth overnight.

BUT, what we CAN do is speak truth at every opportunity.  To never take part in hateful dialogue and call it out whenever we’re confronted with it, whether it be racist jokes, idle talk, group discussions, whatever. 

What we CAN do is to be the best people we can be every day.  Teach our children that it’s not your tennis shoes you or whatever else you wear, but what’s inside you that counts—your character, your ideals.  We  CAN take the high road, think good, think positive, ENCOURAGE others and look for opportunities, always keeping hope alive.  We can share this positivity, we can live it, we can encourage it.  Then, little by little it spreads and spreads and spreads.  It starts with me, it starts with you.

Sunday school basics:  think of others as well as yourself, do good, be honest, work hard, play fair, love everybody, pray for everybody, help whoever you can.  THIS WE CAN DO! 

My friend Gatewood

Today I got the news. An old law school classmate came up to me and asked, of our mutual friend, "Did you hear about Gatewood?" Well, "no" I replied, totally uncertain about what would come next. "He died in his sleep last night." 

I was saddened more than shocked by Gatewood's untimely passing. He was a third year law student when I was in my first, and we had become friends. He was a larger-than-life character even then. Big smile, constant witticisms, a kind word for everyone he met, (prosecutors excepted :)).  He was Jagger-esque in his youth but oddly reminded me of my own father later in his life.

Gatewood was one of the most honest, genuine and sincere people I ever knew. We always shared a good laugh together and had many philosophico-political discussions. We agreed on much (using the power of the state to improve education and provide social services to the most vulnerable, legalization and market maximization of hemp--I once gave him what would become his favorite sportcoat made out of hemp that was actually a good seller in our store); and we were respectful in our divergences.

Gatewood was a fine father to his daughters, a doting son to his mother, a good friend to all who crossed his path, a fearless and effective advocate for clients lucky enough to have him on their side, and a visionary politician whose ideas will gain strength long after his campaigns have ended.

I miss him already, and am so sorry I did not have at least one more slap-on-the-back love in with my old friend, to tell him how proud I was of his spirit, leadership and passion. 

If something uplifting can come from so untimely a death, let it be a resolve to reach out, to call a friend or family member I hadn't spoken to in a while, to tell EVERYBODY what they mean to me and to others. To spend time every day truly appreciating the gift of life and the critical importance of using it not just for myself, but also for others.