50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act
This is one of my son Wakinyan’s senior pictures. I can’t believe another child of mine is ready
to “launch-out” in a couple of months.
I’m sharing this picture with you not because I’m a super proud Mom
(which I am!) but rather because of a recent incident that happened last
Saturday while Wakinyan was working. Hardee’s
restaurants have comment cards on their tables so patrons can rate their dining
experiences and also leave written comments. Wakinyan received his first
comment card; I read it three times to make sure I was seeing it right. My
first reaction was anger, but that quickly led to feeling really hurt and sad.
I talked with Wakinyan, who actually took the comment in stride, “They didn’t
even bother to rate the experience they just took the time to write the note,
oh well.” As I thought about the note over the past few days I realized that
anger and sadness are logical and normal emotions but do not make me feel any
better and can actually contribute to
the feeling of being powerless (which does not sit well with me!).
I was reminded of a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see.” While I certainly would never leave a nasty comment card for a young kid, I probably do have unconscious biases that come out in other ways, ways that could be hurtful. The change I want to see in my community is that by the time George, my youngest son is working a part-time job in high school he won’t have to read a demeaning comment about being Indian. What can I personally do to change negative and stereotypical feelings about Indians in my community? …by raising children who think more of others than they do themselves…by being conscious about my own “unconscious” attitudes towards others…by raising awareness, when given the opportunity about the micro-aggressions and not so subtle aggressions that many people of color contend with daily. This is my challenge and your challenge too. What can we do in our own personal lives, in our communities and in our work lives with Extension to promote understanding and appreciation for people who we perceive are different from us? What can we do to give a voice to and acknowledge people who feel powerless? …These are big and complex questions I know! But I believe that if we commit ourselves to individually care then collectively we can love. And we all know that love has the power to transform our world, one person at a time.
I was reminded of a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see.” While I certainly would never leave a nasty comment card for a young kid, I probably do have unconscious biases that come out in other ways, ways that could be hurtful. The change I want to see in my community is that by the time George, my youngest son is working a part-time job in high school he won’t have to read a demeaning comment about being Indian. What can I personally do to change negative and stereotypical feelings about Indians in my community? …by raising children who think more of others than they do themselves…by being conscious about my own “unconscious” attitudes towards others…by raising awareness, when given the opportunity about the micro-aggressions and not so subtle aggressions that many people of color contend with daily. This is my challenge and your challenge too. What can we do in our own personal lives, in our communities and in our work lives with Extension to promote understanding and appreciation for people who we perceive are different from us? What can we do to give a voice to and acknowledge people who feel powerless? …These are big and complex questions I know! But I believe that if we commit ourselves to individually care then collectively we can love. And we all know that love has the power to transform our world, one person at a time.
Jennifer
In today's paper.... Obama: 'I have lived out the promise' of LBJ and the Civil Rights Act
AUSTIN, Texas — A half-century after the passage of sweeping civil rights legislation, President Barack Obama declared that he had "lived out the promise" envisioned by Lyndon B. Johnson, the president who championed the push for greater racial equality. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, which Johnson signed into law, Obama lauded his Democratic predecessor's ability to grasp like few others the power of government to bring about change and swing open the doors of opportunity for millions of Americans. "They swung open for you and they swung open for me," he said. "That's why I'm standing here today.Obama spoke at the end of a three-day summit commemorating the landmark law that ended racial discrimination in public places."that ended racial discrimination in public places".... As I read these words in the paper today I thought about Wakinyan’s experience this week. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Thank you Jennifer for sharing your experience for us to think about and most importantly to act upon,
Trish
Jennifer, thank you for the courage to share this story. It is a painful one and a reminder of how much change is still needed. It is also a good reminder for all of us to reflect on our unintentional, as well as intentional, biases.
ReplyDeleteAs a person of color when I was young things of this nature would anger me as well. However, like you Jennifer, now all it does is illicit pain. I am glad to live in an era where I can see LBJ's promise lived out but, I hope to one day see MLK's dream lived out.
ReplyDeleteJennifer - thank you for sharing this story. No matter how much progress is made - there is still so much more to do. While reading the story, I was both sadden and hopeful. Saddened for Wakinyan experience, but hopeful for the future. Let's all work for a brighter future for our next generation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the words of encouragement. Yes indeed, we still have a long way to go regarding equal rights and non-discrimination in the workplace-BUT we have come so far! And I am hopeful for our future and for the future of our children. Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this experience with us because it is through dialogues like these that awareness is raised, conversations are started, and change can take place. It also reminds us that we have the opportunity, in our personal lives and in our work, to teach our young people to celebrate & embrace diversity.
ReplyDelete