have you ever been challenged to accept an idea that you didn’t think was true I
an idea that you didn’t think was true I
an idea that you didn’t think was true I was 25 years went old when someone told
was 25 years went old when someone told
was 25 years went old when someone told me that being white had shaped my life
me that being white had shaped my life
me that being white had shaped my life and my thinking and of course I
and my thinking and of course I
and my thinking and of course I disagreed and I said no no I was raised
disagreed and I said no no I was raised
disagreed and I said no no I was raised to be colorblind
to be colorblind
to be colorblind I don’t think about race and it was
I don’t think about race and it was
I don’t think about race and it was years before I began to understand that
years before I began to understand that
years before I began to understand that it’s exactly that experience of not
it’s exactly that experience of not
it’s exactly that experience of not needing to pay attention to race its
needing to pay attention to race its
needing to pay attention to race its shaped me my friends of color on the
shaped me my friends of color on the
shaped me my friends of color on the other hand they’ve always been clear
other hand they’ve always been clear
other hand they’ve always been clear that race was going to impact them so
that race was going to impact them so
that race was going to impact them so much so that their parents felt the need
much so that their parents felt the need
much so that their parents felt the need to create a sense of cultural pride in
to create a sense of cultural pride in
to create a sense of cultural pride in them as something of a barrier and a
them as something of a barrier and a
them as something of a barrier and a protective layer to counteract the
protective layer to counteract the
protective layer to counteract the negative messages that we’re sure to
negative messages that we’re sure to
negative messages that we’re sure to come now this difference matters because
come now this difference matters because
come now this difference matters because it affects what happens when we come
it affects what happens when we come
it affects what happens when we come together to talk about race and the
together to talk about race and the
together to talk about race and the thing is more and more people are trying
thing is more and more people are trying
thing is more and more people are trying to do just that
to do just that
to do just that recognizing that we have a lot of work
recognizing that we have a lot of work
recognizing that we have a lot of work to do if we are going to live out our
to do if we are going to live out our
to do if we are going to live out our ideal of justice for all there is even a
ideal of justice for all there is even a
ideal of justice for all there is even a white anti-racist national network it’s
white anti-racist national network it’s
white anti-racist national network it’s called surge stands for showing up for
called surge stands for showing up for
called surge stands for showing up for racial justice and just in the last
racial justice and just in the last
racial justice and just in the last handful of years it has created 150
handful of years it has created 150
handful of years it has created 150 chapters across the United States and it
chapters across the United States and it
chapters across the United States and it has 25,000 members on its listserv this
has 25,000 members on its listserv this
has 25,000 members on its listserv this is an incredible movement of people
is an incredible movement of people
is an incredible movement of people showing up for this conversation and it
showing up for this conversation and it
showing up for this conversation and it provides us with
provides us with
provides us with a bit of a challenge you see for those
a bit of a challenge you see for those
a bit of a challenge you see for those of us who are just beginning to pay
of us who are just beginning to pay
of us who are just beginning to pay attention to race we often show up
attention to race we often show up
attention to race we often show up really really well intentioned and with
really really well intentioned and with
really really well intentioned and with a very limited awareness of how racially
a very limited awareness of how racially
a very limited awareness of how racially loaded our language really is people of
loaded our language really is people of
loaded our language really is people of color on the other hand often arrive
color on the other hand often arrive
color on the other hand often arrive already rather frustrated from years of
already rather frustrated from years of
already rather frustrated from years of coping with racism and with a pretty
coping with racism and with a pretty
coping with racism and with a pretty sophisticated understanding of the
sophisticated understanding of the
sophisticated understanding of the racial dynamics as well I’ve heard it
racial dynamics as well I’ve heard it
racial dynamics as well I’ve heard it said that coming together as cross race
said that coming together as cross race
said that coming together as cross race dialogues is often like bringing
dialogues is often like bringing
dialogues is often like bringing pre-algebra students into a calculus
pre-algebra students into a calculus
pre-algebra students into a calculus class and this is how it felt for me 20
class and this is how it felt for me 20
class and this is how it felt for me 20 years ago when I first began
years ago when I first began
years ago when I first began participating in cross race dialogues I
participating in cross race dialogues I
participating in cross race dialogues I thought I had all the knowledge and
thought I had all the knowledge and
thought I had all the knowledge and skills I needed from having spent years
skills I needed from having spent years
skills I needed from having spent years on multiracial sporting teams it hadn’t
on multiracial sporting teams it hadn’t
on multiracial sporting teams it hadn’t prepared me and as my initial confidence
prepared me and as my initial confidence
prepared me and as my initial confidence fell away I started to feel like I was
fell away I started to feel like I was
fell away I started to feel like I was arriving at a chasm I see the confusion
arriving at a chasm I see the confusion
arriving at a chasm I see the confusion that I faced the negative emotion that
that I faced the negative emotion that
that I faced the negative emotion that came up for me when I felt challenged
came up for me when I felt challenged
came up for me when I felt challenged well it almost caused me to walk away
well it almost caused me to walk away
well it almost caused me to walk away that it was just too difficult and it’s
that it was just too difficult and it’s
that it was just too difficult and it’s for that reason why I want to talk with
for that reason why I want to talk with
for that reason why I want to talk with you today about four approaches that I
you today about four approaches that I
you today about four approaches that I think can serve as something of a bridge
think can serve as something of a bridge
think can serve as something of a bridge to help us engage in cross-race
to help us engage in cross-race
to help us engage in cross-race dialogues more productively and the
dialogues more productively and the
dialogues more productively and the first one is called both an thinking see
first one is called both an thinking see
first one is called both an thinking see I remember when I first started
I remember when I first started
I remember when I first started listening truly listening to people of
listening truly listening to people of
listening truly listening to people of color talk about their experiences and
color talk about their experiences and
color talk about their experiences and their interpretations of the world and
their interpretations of the world and
their interpretations of the world and how it worked and my first inclination
how it worked and my first inclination
how it worked and my first inclination was often to disagree because it didn’t
was often to disagree because it didn’t
was often to disagree because it didn’t match my own experiences and something
match my own experiences and something
match my own experiences and something deep down inside was convincing me that
deep down inside was convincing me that
deep down inside was convincing me that if I accepted the
if I accepted the
if I accepted the their version of how the world works was
their version of how the world works was
their version of how the world works was accurate that somehow it meant that my
accurate that somehow it meant that my
accurate that somehow it meant that my own experience was wrong and this I
own experience was wrong and this I
own experience was wrong and this I realized as a product of either-or
realized as a product of either-or
realized as a product of either-or thinking and it is so common in our
thinking and it is so common in our
thinking and it is so common in our communities in our conversations and
communities in our conversations and
communities in our conversations and what it leads to is the impetus to start
what it leads to is the impetus to start
what it leads to is the impetus to start almost every response with the word but
almost every response with the word but
almost every response with the word but but are you sure but how do you know but
but are you sure but how do you know but
but are you sure but how do you know but couldn’t it be and what I see now is
couldn’t it be and what I see now is
couldn’t it be and what I see now is that every time I did that I was giving
that every time I did that I was giving
that every time I did that I was giving two very clear messages one is that I
two very clear messages one is that I
two very clear messages one is that I disbelieve their experience of their
disbelieve their experience of their
disbelieve their experience of their life their story and secondly that I was
life their story and secondly that I was
life their story and secondly that I was helping to create even a further
helping to create even a further
helping to create even a further division between us there is an
division between us there is an
division between us there is an alternative however and it is called
alternative however and it is called
alternative however and it is called both an thinking and it is a completely
both an thinking and it is a completely
both an thinking and it is a completely different mindset and what both an
different mindset and what both an
different mindset and what both an thinking allows for is for the idea that
thinking allows for is for the idea that
thinking allows for is for the idea that two seemingly opposed things can both be
two seemingly opposed things can both be
two seemingly opposed things can both be true both an thinking allows for
true both an thinking allows for
true both an thinking allows for contradiction and what both an thinking
contradiction and what both an thinking
contradiction and what both an thinking does is in a conversation where 95% of
does is in a conversation where 95% of
does is in a conversation where 95% of what a person is saying seems to be
what a person is saying seems to be
what a person is saying seems to be foreign to me or in opposition to my
foreign to me or in opposition to my
foreign to me or in opposition to my experience it keeps me searching for
experience it keeps me searching for
experience it keeps me searching for that person’s truth
that person’s truth
that person’s truth it keeps me looking for the connecting
it keeps me looking for the connecting
it keeps me looking for the connecting link that binds us together and this is
link that binds us together and this is
link that binds us together and this is what helps when I try to do the second
what helps when I try to do the second
what helps when I try to do the second thing which is to acknowledge the racism
thing which is to acknowledge the racism
thing which is to acknowledge the racism that exists around us and within me I
that exists around us and within me I
that exists around us and within me I think back to a conversation I had years
think back to a conversation I had years
think back to a conversation I had years ago now with a very dear friend and we
ago now with a very dear friend and we
ago now with a very dear friend and we were talking about housing patterns and
were talking about housing patterns and
were talking about housing patterns and I said something about why people live
I said something about why people live
I said something about why people live where they do I thought it was
where they do I thought it was
where they do I thought it was completely innocuous and my friend found
completely innocuous and my friend found
completely innocuous and my friend found it to be completely racist
it to be completely racist
it to be completely racist and it prompted him to start to give me
and it prompted him to start to give me
and it prompted him to start to give me a history lesson I got really
a history lesson I got really
a history lesson I got really uncomfortable
uncomfortable
uncomfortable partly I did not want to believe aural
partly I did not want to believe aural
partly I did not want to believe aural all of the horrible things that he was
all of the horrible things that he was
all of the horrible things that he was saying was true it’s not what I had
saying was true it’s not what I had
saying was true it’s not what I had learned in school and then the other
learned in school and then the other
learned in school and then the other part is that it felt like he was trying
part is that it felt like he was trying
part is that it felt like he was trying to get me to associate myself with every
to get me to associate myself with every
to get me to associate myself with every bad thing that white people had ever
bad thing that white people had ever
bad thing that white people had ever done and so I felt blamed and attacked
done and so I felt blamed and attacked
done and so I felt blamed and attacked and it’s caused me to say but you know
and it’s caused me to say but you know
and it’s caused me to say but you know me but how could you think of me that
me but how could you think of me that
me but how could you think of me that way and it was a very frustrating
way and it was a very frustrating
way and it was a very frustrating conversation for both of us
conversation for both of us
conversation for both of us and it wasn’t until years later that I
and it wasn’t until years later that I
and it wasn’t until years later that I came across a metaphor that has
came across a metaphor that has
came across a metaphor that has completely taken the blame that I felt
completely taken the blame that I felt
completely taken the blame that I felt out of conversations like these that
out of conversations like these that
out of conversations like these that I’ve been in and since then and so I
I’ve been in and since then and so I
I’ve been in and since then and so I want to share it with you and I want to
want to share it with you and I want to
want to share it with you and I want to share with you even though it did take
share with you even though it did take
share with you even though it did take me a while to accept the truth of this
me a while to accept the truth of this
me a while to accept the truth of this but the fact of the matter is that we
but the fact of the matter is that we
but the fact of the matter is that we are like fish who are swimming in waters
are like fish who are swimming in waters
are like fish who are swimming in waters that have been permeated by racism and
that have been permeated by racism and
that have been permeated by racism and that racism in our environmental waters
that racism in our environmental waters
that racism in our environmental waters was set in place years before any of us
was set in place years before any of us
was set in place years before any of us were born and those waters conditioned
were born and those waters conditioned
were born and those waters conditioned us and they do so without our awareness
us and they do so without our awareness
us and they do so without our awareness and without our consent and the reason
and without our consent and the reason
and without our consent and the reason that I appreciate this as a bridge is
that I appreciate this as a bridge is
that I appreciate this as a bridge is because it’s allowed me to let the
because it’s allowed me to let the
because it’s allowed me to let the defensive miss fall away so that I can
defensive miss fall away so that I can
defensive miss fall away so that I can say yes of course there’s going to be
say yes of course there’s going to be
say yes of course there’s going to be racism within me just like there’s
racism within me just like there’s
racism within me just like there’s implicit bias that all of us are
implicit bias that all of us are
implicit bias that all of us are grappling with and of course there’s
grappling with and of course there’s
grappling with and of course there’s racism in the institutions that I’m a
racism in the institutions that I’m a
racism in the institutions that I’m a part of in all of the systems that
part of in all of the systems that
part of in all of the systems that surround us because it’s been in the
surround us because it’s been in the
surround us because it’s been in the water the entire time I feel no shame
water the entire time I feel no shame
water the entire time I feel no shame about this conditioning it didn’t invite
about this conditioning it didn’t invite
about this conditioning it didn’t invite it
it
it and this is what then helps me to be
and this is what then helps me to be
and this is what then helps me to be able to to become inquisitive it helps
able to to become inquisitive it helps
able to to become inquisitive it helps me to want to know how has the shape to
me to want to know how has the shape to
me to want to know how has the shape to me what am I not perceiving and what can
me what am I not perceiving and what can
me what am I not perceiving and what can I do to change the water and because I
I do to change the water and because I
I do to change the water and because I can stop and then ask this question and
can stop and then ask this question and
can stop and then ask this question and then pull in the both ain’t thinking
then pull in the both ain’t thinking
then pull in the both ain’t thinking what allows me then to do is say I
what allows me then to do is say I
what allows me then to do is say I believe myself to be a good and decent
believe myself to be a good and decent
believe myself to be a good and decent person my spiritual sensibility requires
person my spiritual sensibility requires
person my spiritual sensibility requires it and I know there’s racism within me
it and I know there’s racism within me
it and I know there’s racism within me it’s both and just like I know that I’m
it’s both and just like I know that I’m
it’s both and just like I know that I’m not responsible for all of the racism
not responsible for all of the racism
not responsible for all of the racism that exists in our environment and I
that exists in our environment and I
that exists in our environment and I feel deeply responsible for finding out
feel deeply responsible for finding out
feel deeply responsible for finding out how I might be unconsciously
how I might be unconsciously
how I might be unconsciously perpetuating it and then doing something
perpetuating it and then doing something
perpetuating it and then doing something to change it and it’s carrying the sense
to change it and it’s carrying the sense
to change it and it’s carrying the sense of the both and along with the
of the both and along with the
of the both and along with the acknowledgement of our history of racism
acknowledgement of our history of racism
acknowledgement of our history of racism that allows me to do this third thing
that allows me to do this third thing
that allows me to do this third thing and the third thing is to appreciate
and the third thing is to appreciate
and the third thing is to appreciate moments when I am experiencing what I
moments when I am experiencing what I
moments when I am experiencing what I call emotional fire when engaged with
call emotional fire when engaged with
call emotional fire when engaged with people of color see I remember when I
people of color see I remember when I
people of color see I remember when I first started arriving to cross race
first started arriving to cross race
first started arriving to cross race dialogues and I was really nervous and
dialogues and I was really nervous and
dialogues and I was really nervous and worried that my words were going to be
worried that my words were going to be
worried that my words were going to be taken in a way that I didn’t intend and
taken in a way that I didn’t intend and
taken in a way that I didn’t intend and result in injury or pain or anger I
result in injury or pain or anger I
result in injury or pain or anger I didn’t want that to happen
didn’t want that to happen
didn’t want that to happen and I remember the first time it did I
and I remember the first time it did I
and I remember the first time it did I was sitting with a group of four black
was sitting with a group of four black
was sitting with a group of four black female colleagues and we were talking
female colleagues and we were talking
female colleagues and we were talking about a TV show one that had featured
about a TV show one that had featured
about a TV show one that had featured exclusively black and white guests and I
exclusively black and white guests and I
exclusively black and white guests and I tried to say something helpful about the
tried to say something helpful about the
tried to say something helpful about the absence of Latino or Hispanic voices and
absence of Latino or Hispanic voices and
absence of Latino or Hispanic voices and one of the women reacted in a really
one of the women reacted in a really
one of the women reacted in a really strong way and I remember it
strong way and I remember it
strong way and I remember it experiencing her impassioned speech as
experiencing her impassioned speech as
experiencing her impassioned speech as anger directed at me and what I saw at
anger directed at me and what I saw at
anger directed at me and what I saw at that time was oh she’s overreacting and
that time was oh she’s overreacting and
that time was oh she’s overreacting and I’m being really mistreated because I
I’m being really mistreated because I
I’m being really mistreated because I said something valuable I look back at
said something valuable I look back at
said something valuable I look back at that situation and I interpreted so
that situation and I interpreted so
that situation and I interpreted so differently now because what I
differently now because what I
differently now because what I understand is that I had not been
understand is that I had not been
understand is that I had not been prepared at all for that situation see
prepared at all for that situation see
prepared at all for that situation see conflict avoidance is what I learned and
conflict avoidance is what I learned and
conflict avoidance is what I learned and it is everywhere within my community and
it is everywhere within my community and
it is everywhere within my community and I don’t think it has been helpful or
I don’t think it has been helpful or
I don’t think it has been helpful or healthy to experience every issue that
healthy to experience every issue that
healthy to experience every issue that has potential conflict in it as
has potential conflict in it as
has potential conflict in it as something I’m supposed to escape from or
something I’m supposed to escape from or
something I’m supposed to escape from or battle from and what I’ve realized is
battle from and what I’ve realized is
battle from and what I’ve realized is that what this pattern has resulted in
that what this pattern has resulted in
that what this pattern has resulted in is people of color for so long regularly
is people of color for so long regularly
is people of color for so long regularly needing to tamp down their emotional
needing to tamp down their emotional
needing to tamp down their emotional reactions in the face of tragedy or of
reactions in the face of tragedy or of
reactions in the face of tragedy or of infuriating circumstances while people
infuriating circumstances while people
infuriating circumstances while people like myself are allowed to develop a
like myself are allowed to develop a
like myself are allowed to develop a really thin skin and so what do I do in
really thin skin and so what do I do in
really thin skin and so what do I do in the face of this and what I have
the face of this and what I have
the face of this and what I have attempted is to Center myself in the
attempted is to Center myself in the
attempted is to Center myself in the understanding that our entire racial
understanding that our entire racial
understanding that our entire racial history has been one of trauma repeated
history has been one of trauma repeated
history has been one of trauma repeated trauma that has never been sufficiently
trauma that has never been sufficiently
trauma that has never been sufficiently addressed and so if I spark an intense
addressed and so if I spark an intense
addressed and so if I spark an intense emotional reaction in a person of color
emotional reaction in a person of color
emotional reaction in a person of color and then I immediately try to defend
and then I immediately try to defend
and then I immediately try to defend myself or escape from the situation or
myself or escape from the situation or
myself or escape from the situation or act like I’m not really part of that
then I might quite likely be pouring
then I might quite likely be pouring salt in a freshly reopened wound
salt in a freshly reopened wound
salt in a freshly reopened wound see I don’t want to do that if instead I
see I don’t want to do that if instead I
see I don’t want to do that if instead I can bring in that both an thinking and I
can bring in that both an thinking and I
can bring in that both an thinking and I can understand and acknowledge our
can understand and acknowledge our
can understand and acknowledge our history of racism and its results then
history of racism and its results then
history of racism and its results then what I’m able to do is work to become
what I’m able to do is work to become
what I’m able to do is work to become able to respond responds able
able to respond responds able
able to respond responds able responsible instead of just reactive and
responsible instead of just reactive and
responsible instead of just reactive and this is what allows me to say yes I’m
this is what allows me to say yes I’m
this is what allows me to say yes I’m responsible for that spark that led to
responsible for that spark that led to
responsible for that spark that led to that emotional reaction and it’s my job
that emotional reaction and it’s my job
that emotional reaction and it’s my job to stay there and work toward something
to stay there and work toward something
to stay there and work toward something of a resolution figure out what happened
of a resolution figure out what happened
of a resolution figure out what happened and it’s quite possible that the
and it’s quite possible that the
and it’s quite possible that the intensity of that emotional reaction
intensity of that emotional reaction
intensity of that emotional reaction might actually have been years or
might actually have been years or
might actually have been years or decades or lifetimes in the making and
decades or lifetimes in the making and
decades or lifetimes in the making and in that moment I might have done
in that moment I might have done
in that moment I might have done something that was reminiscent of
something that was reminiscent of
something that was reminiscent of something that someone had just done
something that someone had just done
something that someone had just done that was in Juris last week last month
that was in Juris last week last month
that was in Juris last week last month last year it’s even possible that what I
last year it’s even possible that what I
last year it’s even possible that what I did what I said might have some
did what I said might have some
did what I said might have some historical link to a pattern that’s
historical link to a pattern that’s
historical link to a pattern that’s hundreds of years old that I’m not aware
hundreds of years old that I’m not aware
hundreds of years old that I’m not aware of and when I can stay open and
of and when I can stay open and
of and when I can stay open and non-defensive and recognize that both
non-defensive and recognize that both
non-defensive and recognize that both might be true at the same time then I
might be true at the same time then I
might be true at the same time then I can move into a learning posture and
can move into a learning posture and
can move into a learning posture and that point I am able to recognize that
that point I am able to recognize that
that point I am able to recognize that yes yes this is an opportunity to deepen
yes yes this is an opportunity to deepen
yes yes this is an opportunity to deepen my relationship with this person it is
my relationship with this person it is
my relationship with this person it is quite possible that this is the first
quite possible that this is the first
quite possible that this is the first time that this person is allowing me to
time that this person is allowing me to
time that this person is allowing me to experience their vulnerability it’s
experience their vulnerability it’s
experience their vulnerability it’s possibly an investment in me that this
possibly an investment in me that this
possibly an investment in me that this person is making to make the choice to
person is making to make the choice to
person is making to make the choice to give to me their energy to try to teach
give to me their energy to try to teach
give to me their energy to try to teach me something new
me something new
me something new and this is something that I need to
and this is something that I need to
and this is something that I need to appreciate and all of this becomes more
appreciate and all of this becomes more
appreciate and all of this becomes more viable when I arrive with a personal
viable when I arrive with a personal
viable when I arrive with a personal grounding in racial justice see I
grounding in racial justice see I
grounding in racial justice see I remember arriving over a decade ago to a
remember arriving over a decade ago to a
remember arriving over a decade ago to a meeting of white anti-racist in Los
meeting of white anti-racist in Los
meeting of white anti-racist in Los Angeles and one of the first questions
Angeles and one of the first questions
Angeles and one of the first questions they asked me was why do you care what’s
they asked me was why do you care what’s
they asked me was why do you care what’s in it for you and what I learned that
in it for you and what I learned that
in it for you and what I learned that day was that if the only reason I show
day was that if the only reason I show
day was that if the only reason I show up for racial justice is because I think
up for racial justice is because I think
up for racial justice is because I think I’m trying to help someone or because I
I’m trying to help someone or because I
I’m trying to help someone or because I feel guilty or because I just think it’s
feel guilty or because I just think it’s
feel guilty or because I just think it’s the right moral thing to do then it is
the right moral thing to do then it is
the right moral thing to do then it is all too easy for my thoughts and actions
all too easy for my thoughts and actions
all too easy for my thoughts and actions to come out of an internalized sense
to come out of an internalized sense
to come out of an internalized sense albeit unconscious of superiority
albeit unconscious of superiority
albeit unconscious of superiority whereas if I understand that racism has
whereas if I understand that racism has
whereas if I understand that racism has been used as a tool for centuries to
been used as a tool for centuries to
been used as a tool for centuries to keep people from different racial groups
keep people from different racial groups
keep people from different racial groups from working together to create a more
from working together to create a more
from working together to create a more just system then I can also understand
just system then I can also understand
just system then I can also understand that that tool racism has been used to
that that tool racism has been used to
that that tool racism has been used to harden my heart the conditioning that
harden my heart the conditioning that
harden my heart the conditioning that has caused me to be immune and remain a
has caused me to be immune and remain a
has caused me to be immune and remain a bystander to the injury and violence
bystander to the injury and violence
bystander to the injury and violence that people of color continue to face
that people of color continue to face
that people of color continue to face that’s been something that is
that’s been something that is
that’s been something that is dehumanizing for me I feel it within my
dehumanizing for me I feel it within my
dehumanizing for me I feel it within my soul now and I recognize it in the
soul now and I recognize it in the
soul now and I recognize it in the disconnection and the fear that exists
disconnection and the fear that exists
disconnection and the fear that exists within my own community and so yeah for
within my own community and so yeah for
within my own community and so yeah for me when I show up for racial justice yes
me when I show up for racial justice yes
me when I show up for racial justice yes it’s about creating a more just system
it’s about creating a more just system
it’s about creating a more just system for people experiencing injustice and it
for people experiencing injustice and it
for people experiencing injustice and it is part of my healing process and a
is part of my healing process and a
is part of my healing process and a healing process for my own community and
healing process for my own community and
healing process for my own community and it’s this foundation that is what allows
it’s this foundation that is what allows
it’s this foundation that is what allows me to stand with a strong and clear
me to stand with a strong and clear
me to stand with a strong and clear voice and it’s what allows me to stay
voice and it’s what allows me to stay
voice and it’s what allows me to stay emotionally balanced when I’m asked to
emotionally balanced when I’m asked to
emotionally balanced when I’m asked to do that work of truly listening to
do that work of truly listening to
do that work of truly listening to another person’s story particularly when
another person’s story particularly when
another person’s story particularly when it highlights the incomplete
it highlights the incomplete
it highlights the incomplete nests of my own ultimately what I’m
nests of my own ultimately what I’m
nests of my own ultimately what I’m suggesting is that our entire history of
suggesting is that our entire history of
suggesting is that our entire history of racism has been one of trauma one of
racism has been one of trauma one of
racism has been one of trauma one of dehumanization all of us have been
dehumanization all of us have been
dehumanization all of us have been affected and that if we are serious
affected and that if we are serious
affected and that if we are serious about increasing the quality of life not
about increasing the quality of life not
about increasing the quality of life not only for ourselves but for others we are
only for ourselves but for others we are
only for ourselves but for others we are going to need to increase our capacity
going to need to increase our capacity
going to need to increase our capacity to stay open to truths that do not yet
to stay open to truths that do not yet
to stay open to truths that do not yet feel true if we can do this then I think
feel true if we can do this then I think
feel true if we can do this then I think we will be able to begin to heal the old
we will be able to begin to heal the old
we will be able to begin to heal the old wounds and to stop creating new ones
wounds and to stop creating new ones
wounds and to stop creating new ones thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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