How can we help?

From a Facebook post:

"How can we help? What should a politician take for a stance?"

First of all, "what should a politician take for a stance?" A politician should take the stance that it is WRONG. This would be a departure from blaming Black people for being the victims in a system that has set-out to victimize and exploit us (which has been the status quo). But politicians as a whole can not do anything about it except to lead us (I know, it's a novel thought).

The answer lies with us, all of us. Unfortunately it is not an easy solution. It is also not a quick solution. We have to change people's hearts and attitudes. In-order to do this the first step we must take is to raise awareness of how deeply ingrained Racism personally is in our attitudes, actions and hearts. White people have been taught from birth that "White is Right" and that "Black is Inferior" and these teachings are the foundation of our systems. I will not go into this in more detail now (that is what all the posts #KnowOurHistory have been about).

I do not believe that most White people are consciously Racist, but sub-consciously ALL fall into that category, especially with one's attitudes and preferences. To justify this, as Dorothy A. Brown said in this book, "white Americans—simply do not want to live next to too many blacks". Some will state this openly, but those who wish to think of themselves as Not-Racist will use other reasons to support this sub-conscious preference.

My intention is not to blame White people for "following their program" but instead my intention is for White people to understand that they have been programmed and that they have a choice to continue to follow this path (and continue those behaviors they "claim" to abhor) or to take steps to make changes and engage in behaviors that are more inline with their true beliefs.

As far as a "solution" for the discrimination, bias, microaggressions, indignities, etc. that continue to be inflicted on Black people, legislation is only a small part of this solution. A more effective solution is in changing people's hearts, so they understand that the concepts of Racism better so people can be pro-active in working to correct society and understand that this is best for all of us.

To bring this about we have to start talking to each other and more importantly, we have to learn to listen to each other. So much of our Racist Systems rely on White people BEING SEPARATED and NOT LISTENING to Black people, especially when Black people relate their experiences to White people. This is encouraged through the FEAR that is taught to encourage this separation. This point is so easily illustrated with the push-back of many White people in the teaching of Black History or of the examination of to point out the flaws of this country.

Acknowledgment and awareness are the first steps to coming to grips with and working on a solution to eradicate Racism. That is what we need to focus on at this time.