HUMAN

I saw this hoody last year (from #WearThePeace) and made a note to myself to get it. I knew I needed it. The underlying message is hugely important to me. We are all human. (At least I hope so.) I don’t have room in my space for racism.

Seeing the injustice and stupidity all over social media filled with hatred infuriates me. The latest example of this is with the new Little Mermaid. First of all, it’s a freaking mermaid. But most important, Disney casting a black woman to play her is long overdue. Representation and inclusiveness is necessary for young children to be able to relate and find self-love.

There are studies that show how little girls of all races thought “white” dolls were prettier and chose those over darker skin tones because that is what is shoved down our throats by the media. In truth, all skin tones are beautiful. Life would be boring if we all looked the same. 

A biracial friend of mine when I was growing up explained it beautifully. “Think about a garden with all red roses. It’s beautiful, right? Even though it might be boring after a while. But when you add different flowers and colors it makes all the flowers that much more beautiful.”

If you can watch the blind reaction videos of the little girls who saw the advertisement and were so happy that “she looks like me” and still think it’s wrong, then you’re just racist, closed-minded and cold.

It took several decades for Disney to even produce a film with a black princess. I’m excited to see this. And I think Halle Bailey is a beautiful and talented woman. Why shouldn’t she get to play Ariel?

We spend so much time dividing ourselves in a time when we should be uniting. Love is just as contagious as hate. Think about what a hateful world will await your grandchildren or great grandchildren if we don’t make these changes now.

I grew up in Southern California with a lot of diversity, so I was truly shocked to talk to people in my age group during my thirties and find out that they grew up in extremely segregated communities (mostly in the south). I seriously didn’t think that was a thing anymore. But how is it still a thing? I really don’t understand.

Beauty comes in every shade, shape, and fashion to me. So does intelligence. And skill. And everything else. We have so much we could learn from each other.

I do believe that black lives matter. Because they are still the most unrepresented and discriminated against group of people in this nation. This country categorizes my sons as black men. I might have a deeper understanding than many people who look like me regarding the systematic racism and injustices the black community faces in this country because of some of the things I had to teach my sons. Or maybe it’s because I’m open-minded and talk to people and ask questions and look for the truth instead of what makes me comfortable.

The same people complaining about the casting of this film are probably the same people that don’t want the atrocities and sins of this nation to be taught in school. The things that make us uncomfortable are the things we need to learn, teach, unpack, address, learn from, and FIX!

I don’t believe melanin, or the lack thereof, is what makes a person worthy, smart, beautiful, etc. I think character, integrity, respect, kindness, etc. is what makes a person valuable. What are we contributing to society?

What role do you want to play in the future of your children and the generations to come? I want to play a role of leadership, integrity, teaching, kindness, acceptance, etc. I don’t tolerate hatred around me. It takes up so much energy and is toxic. It’s death.

If you aren’t clear about something, ask questions. But do so in a respectful manner. Research. Find the answers. Whatever you do, please don’t teach or pass on hatred to your children. You’re actually doing them a disservice.

I’d be willing to bet most people have had more kindness shown to them by people of other races than not. However, it’s the negative encounters that stand out. There are both kind and unkind people in every race.

Open dialogue with people who don’t look like you, aren’t from where you’re from, are in a different social class, etc. is how we can begin the healing process. Seek understanding. If you aren’t interested in that, at least keep to yourself and stop spewing hate.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Although slavery may have been abolished, the crippling poison of racism still persists, and the struggle still continues.” ~Harry Belafonte

“I learned that racism, like most systems of oppression, isn’t about bad people doing terrible things to people who are different from them but instead is a way of maintaining power for certain groups at the expense of others.” ~Alicia Garza