Over the past week my heart has been broken in a thousand pieces to see what is happening around our country and to those that I call my brothers and sisters. I honestly don't see "color"... I see people and hearts. I hate and loathe that this is even a topic that needs to be addressed as I naively hoped and believed that we have come so far since the "days of old". My heart is broken that this is obviously not the case and to all who are hurting I see you and my heart is with you.
To my black friends, I stand with you. I fight with you. I am behind you.
To my former black students, I am so sorry that you have entered a world that we discussed in history class should have been just that... never to be repeated. I am so sorry that walking down the street no longer feels safe. You are not walking alone. I am walking with you.
To my future foster/adopted children who may be black, I promise to fight harder for a world safe for you and everyone to be in.
I am not an expert in this conversation at all and I love that y'all know my tender heart in these matters bleed open but instead of letting emotions run things I have been searching for ways to "help". Here are just a few of the things that I am doing to help support the change that we so desperately need in our broken country...
*engaging in the tough conversations with my black friends and loved ones
*weeping with those who weep
*speaking out here on social media and in my sphere of influence (which we all have)
*signing petitions
*writing to representatives and demanding that things change
*supporting movements for additional police training
*supporting black owned businesses
*taking training classes on how to be a foster parent who is aware of these issues and knows how to best face a system that may be full of racial bias
*supporting our black leaders
*encouraging conversations in the classroom that address these issues
and praying... praying for our country, our hearts, and our brokenness....and praying for George Floyd's family and loved ones during this time. I am truly so very sorry.
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."
-Desmund Tutu-
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