Now what? Action must follow racial awareness

I have heard countless times over the past few weeks from a cross-section of our community how unconscionable the killings of George Floyd, Ahmad Aubrey and Breonna Taylor were. Many of my white friends across the country have called expressing support and emotions of disbelief and telling me what I am sure they know is common ground that “this can’t keep happening”

I can’t remember when last I heard such a deep-seated mourning among my Black community — an “I am just sick and tired of these senseless deaths” type of cry; an ache at the core of our being that’s built on a long history of previous episodes.

Over the years, I have cautioned myself not to be fooled into believing a change was coming. I guess it was a defense mechanism from disappointment. However, for whatever reason, something feels different this time. When you see the NFL acknowledge it was wrong in ignoring the voices of its Black athletes in 2016 calling to end police brutality of Black men. When NASCAR, at the demand of its sole Black driver, bans the presence of the confederate flag from all of its races and events. When Black Lives Matter protests reflect a huge presence of our white brothers and sisters marching shoulder to shoulder with the Black community and nations are pausing to acknowledge the injustice, it feels like the beginning of a paradigm shift in the consciousness of humanity.

In my heart, I truly believe there has been an awakening across society. However,

emotions are good but words and awareness alone, without significant action, will be dust in the wind. We are a society of a very short attention span. Our focus is only as long as the news cycle, then we move on. I caution everyone who is truly interested in creating a more just society that we not allow our desire for justice and equality to vanish like the wind by summer’s end. Mere acknowledgement of this horrific injustice is not enough!

Real justice requires stick-to-itiveness; it requires not accepting no for an answer and not being deterred when people who publicly claimed they stood for justice turned out to be roadblocks to real reform. Lasting change requires a boldness and a degree of impatience. Otherwise, “wait til next year” or “you’re moving too fast” will be the bridge of excuses that will connect George Floyd’s death to the next one to come; sequel after sequel.

So I answer the question of “Now what?” — strongly encouraging my white brothers and sisters and the entire community in its array of diversity and strength, to truly commit to the long struggle of taking steps to advocate for the vulnerable, and change social structures to prevent injustices. It takes the village of humanity to effectuate real justice. Let your voice be heard, at the dinner table, at work, your church and inner circle, speaking truth to power. Do those that know you best honestly know you as one that’s fighting for justice for all, or is this just a passing thought you had hearing the headline story, but one you have kept to yourself? Is your current attention to the issue of racial justice merely an emotional convenience in the face of a tragic death? A clear voice from the majority community and those that are privileged (which is why I am speaking out) carries great weight and the ongoing dialogue of change. We cannot tell those who are victims of the system “we are with you” and expect them to overcome the weight of the unjust institutions of our society.

If we want a better society, we must demand structural changes to our entire social fabric, including our justice system, healthcare, education, voting rights and every other public institution. We cannot keep doing business as usual and expect a different outcome. We must be willing to put our prestige and reputations to work for the greater good of a just society.

And for those that believe this is not about them and it doesn’t impact the quality of their lives, I remind you of the words of Dr. King, “we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

After the marching comes, the real work toward change begins. I challenge you to be the change you claim to desire!