YWCA Greater Cleveland: 10 Steps Toward Bridging Our Painful Racial Divide
"There is a cure against racism. The deep wounds can be healed but the healing process is intricate, deliberate and will require involvement from those who have previously remained silent."
On April 27 YWCA Greater Cleveland hosted a screening and discussion of Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness to a large and engaged audience. The event--and this piece below--is part of YWCA's national Stand Against Racism campaign.
By Margaret Mitchell, President & CEO, YWCA Greater Cleveland
The year was 1937. My mother and her sisters were playing in the front yard of their Greensboro, North Carolina home when a speeding delivery truck jumped the soft earthen curb, hitting and killing three-year-old Anita Shoffner. The driver, who was drunk and White, was never charged in the murder of my mother’s sister, who was African American. My mother's family story is not unique, and growing up in Fresno, California, I knew hate was not just a Black and White issue. I spent more afternoons than I can count in the home of Mary and Ernest Gonzales eating homemade tortillas with fresh butter, learning the realities of Mexican American life, the harsh realities of extreme bias.For far too many Americans, the death of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin reopened painful wounds. Sometimes I am lulled into believing these old wounds have healed. But the devastation of hate and racism is an injury that never seems to heal. Instead it brings bitterness, anger and hopelessness to the surface, which breeds with fear and disillusionment in the open air. This same destructive fear thrives in San Diego, where an Iraqi-American woman was murdered on March 24, 2012, and racism is the suspected culprit. Hate and racism also hang in the air in Kansas City, where police are investigating two Black teens who allegedly set a younger White teen on fire in late February of this year.
The scar tissue of hate and racism is everywhere. A 2005 study by the U.S. Department of Justice estimated there are about 191,000 hate crimes incidents per year. How many more times will mourners need to gather at candlelight vigils or march for justice as the result of racism and hate? When will it stop? Will the wounds of racism be healed in 2042, when, according to State of the Dream 2012: The Emerging Majority report by United for Fair Economy, a major demographic shift will take place and the majority of the country will be non-white for the first time in our nation’s history? 2042 will be a reality, but it won't be a magic wand. In fact, some data from the report suggests the economic divide between people of color and Whites may be cavernous. Will this vast economic divide aggravate generational wounds of bias into a frenzy not seen since the 1960s?
There is a cure against racism. The deep wounds can be healed but the healing process is intricate, deliberate and will require involvement from those who have previously remained silent. When racism raises its ugly head, silence becomes toxic and our apathy is interpreted as total acceptance. We always have a choice: do nothing and let racism go uncontested and flourish, or do something -- act up, rise up, and speak up. We must pick up the armor of righteousness daily in order to slay the evil forces of racism at work against us. It will not be easy and it will not always be comfortable for any of us but courage is a game changer. We must each take a step each day to garner support and find our voice as the moral majority.
Here are 10 steps we can each take to step out of the shadows of silence:
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Learn about other people and their culture but go beyond foods and festivals.
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Explore the unfamiliar. Put yourself in situations where you are in the visible minority.
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Be a proactive parent. Talk to your children candidly about race.
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Don't tell or laugh at stereotypical jokes.
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Think before you speak. Words can hurt whether you mean them to or not.
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Be a role model and help educate others regarding your own experiences.
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Don't make assumptions because they are usually wrong and stereotypes are destructive.
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Consider how race and racism impact your life and those around you.
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Don't let others get away with biased language or behavior- speak up and out.
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Take a position against hate and take a Stand Against Racism.
Hate attacks civility, community and escalates into the disease of racism -- racism hurts everyone.
Originally published by YWCA Greater Cleveland
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Book - "Racism, The Bible, and The American Dream"
Greetings. My name is Elreta Dodds. I am an author and independent publisher (dba Press Toward The Mark Publications). My latest book, "Racism, The Bible, and The American Dream" (subtitled, "From Slavery to Obama: A Frank Discussion, from a Christian Perspective, on Racial Discrimination in America, and its effect on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness") is Winner of the 2012 International Book Award in African American Studies and is also Winner of the 2011 National Indie Excellence Book Award in Social Change. The purpose of this book is to dispel any misconception that the Bible condones racism, to better enlighten the public about the seriousness of institutional racism that exists in America against minorities today, to encourage more individuals to speak out against racism when the opportunity arises in their circles, and to redirect, as many as possible, those who erroneously misuse the Bible as a weapon to justify racial hatred. An exhaustive history on racial discrimination in America is included. The book emphasizes that racism is not just a social issue, but it is a moral issue as well. Many peopl have told me that they believe this book should b in our schools and colleges across the country. The book is available at Amazon.com and at other online sources. If you'd like more information about the book and/or about me please feel free to visit my blog at www.racismthebibleandtheamericandream.blogspot.com. You can also visit my website at www.elretadodds.com or email me at presstowardthemarkpub@netscape.com. Thanks!
Racism, The Bible, and The American Dreamracismthebibleandtheamericandream.blogspot.com
racial discrimination
I went to the Rainbow clothing store number 00751 located at 1420 metropolitan avenue in the Bronx NY 10462, to purchase some items with my wife which we normally do whenever she is leaving for college. But this time, she wanted some summer foot wears when she came back from campus. Immediately we entered into the shop, the floor clerk with operating number 3058jh approached us and said unethically how may I help you. My fiancee, calmly ask where their foot wear section was, the clerk then pointed downstairs and then called one of the floor clerks downstairs and literally ask her to
keep an eye on us. At that point I decided to ignore her behavior and then have a sit while my wife shop.
After she choose 5 items, we proceed upstairs to pay for the items. When the items was charged and then receipt issued, we proceed and exited the store to our car when the store clerk followed us outside the store after her earlier Deming behavior and then in
front everyone in front of the store said our items have some items that have not be checked, collected
the items and checked in the store at the register she used to charge the items but found nothing and
there was no business ethical reaction such as apologizing for the deeming,racial and bias conduct.
I believe that new york city has being a city of growing business because of the consumers and
businesses that are welling to service the consumer in service. And attitude like this end up pushing
NYC residence to shopping malls outside the city and the city would in the long run loose jobs due to
such individualized racial discrimination due to color, accent and social perspective.
racism AT WORK
I RECENTLY QUIT MY JOB OF TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF RACISM. MY STORE MANAGER AND SUPERVISOR SAT DOWN WITH ME(SHIFT MANAGER) 3 TO 4 TIMES WITHIN 3-4 MONTHS (CALLED MEETINGS) TELLING ME HOW I NEVER DO MY JOB RIGHT, I ALWAYS COME TO WORK LATE, IM ON THE PHONE WHEN IM ON THE FLOOR ETC. I CRY BECAUSE I TAKE MY JOB VERY SERIOUS, I BUST MY BUTT OFF EVERY DAY, IM PREGNANT N I PICK UP HEAVY ITEMS JUST SO I CAN GET MY JOB DONE. WHEN I ASK THEM TO TRAIN ME MORE, SINCE IM NOT DOING MY JOB RIGHT..THEY TELL ME THAT IM NOT A BABY, THEY NOT GONE HOLD ME BY MY HANDS TO TRAIN ME I HAVE TO LEARN BY WHAT I SEE. BUT YENI MY STORE MANAGER HAVE TIME TO TRAIN THE OTHER HISPANIC PEOPLE. GIVE THEM RAISES AFTER THEY TAKE A CLASS. I'VE DONE MY CLASS 3 MONTHS AGO N I NEVER GOT A CENT RAISE. I TOLD THEM WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE A MEETING, WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE GETTING SUSPENDED. THEY ALWAYS SAY STOP WORRYING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF. YEA I LIKE TO BE TREATED FARELY IF SOSO AND SO COME TO WORK LATE AND HE DON'T GET SUSPENDED WHY IM I GETTING SUSPENDED. I DONT STEAL, I DONT OWE THE SAFE MONEY. MY STORE MANAGER PUT ME N THIS OTHER AFRICAN AMERICAN BOY TO WORK OVERNIGHT SO WE CAN BUST OUR BUTT OFF,BECAUSE ITS ONLY FOUR PEOPLE WORKING OVERNIGHT, WHEN ITS SUPPOSE TO BE FIVE. TWO IN THE KITCHEN, ONE CREW TAKING MONEY AND ORDERS, AND THE MANAGER HAS TO RUN FOR DRIVE THRU N PRESENT THE FOODTO THE CUSTOMERS, CLEAN THE MCCAFE, COUNT 6-7 REGISTER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE $100, STOCK THE FROUNT COUNTER AND DRIVE THRU, CHECK THE TEMPEATURE FOR BREAKFAST, HAVE PREP CHART READY FOR LUNCH AND BREAKFAST, ETC. BUT BREAKFAST AND LUNCH THEY HAVE 10-15 PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR. SO THE LAST MEETING THEY HAD WITH ME I CRIED WHEN THEY TELL ME ALL THE NEGATIVE THING ABOUT ME N HOW THEY GONNA SUSPEND ME AGAIN, AND WHEN I GET BACK IM ON 90 DAYS PROBATION. I SAID WHEN I COME BACK CAN I GET A TRANSFER, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A TRANSFER FOR 4-5 MONTHS. THERE IS EXCUSE IS THERE ARE NO STORES THAT NEED PEOPLE, WHEN I CALL OTHER STORES TO SEE IF THEY NEED PPL THE SAY TES THEY DO. OTHER MANAGERS TELLS ME THAT THEY JUST MAKE ME STAY HERE SO I CAN SUFFER, THE CREW DON'T RESPECT ME, SO TRYING TO GET A JOB COMPLETE IS HARD CUASE AT THE END OF THE DAY I HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF. I EXPLAIN THESE TO THE STORE MANAGER AND SHE DOES NOTHING, THE CREW VOICE IS HEARD, AND NOT ME THE SHIFT MANAGER.
Young lady, don't let those
Young lady, don't let those ignorant slave drivers get away with what the did to make your life a living hell, they should be held accountable and it should be made known to your old company what these un- professional fools did, so they can be investigated or possibly fired. You should file a complaint with EEOC for harrassment if anything and because you were expecting when they allowed you to do heavy lifting. This company you worked crossed the line on so many occassions and levels. Also next time you work for another company and you're having problems with employees or management, please make sure you document everything that happens by adding witnesses, names, dates and times just in case you have to sue someone, file complaints with the labor commission or EEOC. Oftentimes when people go to their companies HR departments to file complaints but they will sometimes turn on you you, like they did to me on one of my jobs. The Bottomline is that there are some absolutely horrible people in this world whom wrongly get management jobs they don't deserve so they abuse their "fake power" to make themselves look more important or use it for racial harassment.
Strong Beautiful Black Woman
Girl,
Michelle Obama is what a strong black woman look's like. Never Ever give up.
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