04/05/2024
WROTE THIS 7 years ago, at least 2 years prior to coauthoring Black History 365 — a solution to the education gap in America. How has this response aged?
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CHARLOTTESVILLE: A good and respected friend of mine emailed me -- taking me to task -- asking me why I hadn't said anything specific yet about the terrible situation in Charlottesville, VA. I am grateful that he felt comfortable to share his "unvarnished" thoughts and feelings. Below is an edited-for-Facebook segment of my response to him.
By the way, the heart-wrenching photo below is not from Charlottesville. It was from a K*K march in Gainesville in 1992...taken by Todd Robertson.
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HERE’S MY RESPONSE: I have decided quite a while ago that IF I am going to comment on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or any other social media platform about anything in the news regarding politics, race relations or some other situation -- I am going to wait a while (a few days in some cases and 1-2 weeks in other cases) before making some sort of comment.
My objective is to stay away from knee-jerk reactions, let the dust settle and to determine if what we all heard/read/saw in the way the news media has served it up....is what really happened.
TIME is the best friend of TRUTH.
I do not trust the mainstream media. And I have verifiable reasons for not trusting them. Too much photo journalism, tight edits and partisan-esque spin for me to be comfortable. They are the only business protected by the Constitution. But they ARE a BUSINESS and RATINGS rule.
Plus, when it comes to communication, very little true communication happens on social media -- hence the ramping up of the vitriol surrounding politics, religion, race relations, et al.
In 63 years I have never seen the vitriol the way it is today. I think people have always felt deeply about issues.
Perhaps what has changed is the always-hungry monster of 24/7 cable news and also social media.
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* Approx 10% of communication is what we say (content).
* Approx 40% of communication is how we say it (tone, decibel level)
* Approx 50% of communication is body language.
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Any form of social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) provides about 10% of communication. And doesn't even do that very well.
When we are only working with only 10% of communication -- generally good-hearted people tend to talk at or past each other when it comes to truly addressing the ills and evils of our society.
Perhaps this is at least part of the reason why race relations and political discourse are at an all-time low in our country.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) stats indicate that a high percentage of accidents occur because people hit a soft shoulder and over-correct their steering...careening to the other side of the road, hitting an on-coming vehicle, rock wall, telephone pole or tree.
Perhaps that serves as a metaphor for how masses of people careen to the other side of an issue without understanding the long-term impact of their actions.
Because of these types of matters, I fear for our country.
My point in all this. This past week it was Charlottesville. Next week there will be another senseless killing, or some type of race-related issue perhaps in Kentucky or some other place. And the week following something else will be happening in LA, NY, Chicago or Boston.
I do not feel the need...nor am I driven by an inordinate sense of self importance that it is necessary for me to make some sort of statement to all of the people on social media who are breathlessly waiting for me to do so....every time something despicable happens.
My stance is clear. I HATE HATE HATE racism, prejudice, or bigotry in all its forms. Na**sm, K*K, et al. Incubated in the pit of hell. Transcendent evil.
That's where I stood last week/month year/decade, where I am this week, next week, and forever. Most of my adult life I have intentionally fought for justice for all wherever I could in my limited sphere of influence, in ways that seemed to work.
There are many opportunities:
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• Writing books/films/blogs and developing other forms of media that positively impact millions.
• Engaging in meaningful, intentional and committed cross-cultural conversations that don't mince words.
• Admitting it and changing when personal prejudices are revealed...within one's own mind/heart or by others.
• Helping to develop and launch entrepreneurial projects that actually employ people in inner city communities.
• Stopping a friend mid-sentence when he/she is starting to tell a racist joke.
• Educating and inspiring people to step outside their comfort zones and connect on a deeper level.
• Utilizing genuine, historical documents and artifacts as gateways to deeper knowledge, understanding and dialogue.
• Reading books and watching documentaries that educate and challenge us on the topics of history we never learned in school and cross-cultural awareness.
• Actually listening and asking deeper, open-ended questions when someone we disagree with is sharing his/her thoughts.
• Any additional ideas?
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It is important for all of us to be involved in "justice-for-all" projects that work...even if we whisper, carrying a big stick...and truly do not care who gets the credit.
In my experience, those who yell the loudest are grandstanding...and generally the ones who are doing the least to truly help. I always follow the money and that picture isn't always very pretty -- on BOTH sides of the coin.
So....next time...and every other time thereafter....you can know where I stand. I may not be yelling loudly after every racist situation that has gripped the nation. But you can know that I will always be ACTING behind the scenes...and perhaps even whispering a bit. And one never knows, I might even holler.
Yelling may be grandstanding. Silence may be cowardice. Only God truly knows the intents of the heart of each individual.
ALL I KNOW is that I have been compelled to act, give, write, encourage, educate, pray, challenge, teach, mentor, reach out to bigots along with reaching out those who have been targets of their bigotry, and brutally confront the self centered inclinations of my own heart and mind (yelling at myself before yelling elsewhere).
And all of that I do BOLDLY...
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PERSONAL UPDATE: By the way, this was written in 2017, at least 2 years prior to accepting the invitation from Dr. Walter Milton to coauthor the Black History 365 curriculum — our “love letter” to the entire country. Not just 50% of the country. By God’s favor, our K-12 BH365 curriculum has now been adopted by almost 400 public school districts across America — www.BH365.org
Some may march. Others may write/perform songs with a message. Still others talk on podcasts and panel discussions. All forms of peaceful protest are necessary and important when addressing any form of injustice. .
I protest differently. I’m a solutionist. I look at the problems and search for solutions.
