While I normally focus on burnout, this week I am shifting the narrative to speak out on something that is an important topic and give it the light it deserves.
Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed horrific violence against the black community in America:
- A video of George Floyd gasping for breath and pleading for his life as a cop pressed a knee into his neck.
- The death of Breonna Taylor, a EMT who had big dreams of being a nurse, due to a senseless raid "looking for drugs".
- The three month old footage of Ahmaud Arbery being chased down by a vigilante ex-cop.
- A white woman calling 911and claim that Christian Cooper was threatening her because he told her to put her dog on leash.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Your skin color should not mean:
- worrying about being pulled over by cops arrested because you "look suspicious".
- questioning if you were turned away from a job because of your skin color.
-wonder if a neighbor is going to call the cops on you or a family member because they are "uncomfortable."
-having to give the "talk" to your kids about not wearing hoodies or acting a certain way around police.
- worrying your family members or you could die if you do not behave a certain way around the police.
We can do better.
Here are four ways to begin being a better allies to POC folk.
1. Understand and shed light on your own prejudices.
It's easy to point at Neo-nazis and KKK as racist douchebags, because they wear their prejudices and hatred for all to see.
BUT.
We all have our prejudices and biases that influence what we think about other people who are different than us. While there maybe shame and guilt, don't avoid them or bury them under statements like "I don't see color."
Having prejudices do not make you a bad person. Where we get stuck is when we refuse to look at our bias and find an opportunity to over come them.
2. Be a good listener and seek understanding.
Listening is not just giving time for POC to speak or waiting for when you can speak and provide answers/solutions. Listening is an active practice that is about being present with the speaker and creating a container where they can say what they need to say.
Focus on being the receiver of information, ask questions if you are not clear, and be willing to hold space with compassion.
3. Unlearn stereotypes about ethnicities you may have learned in nursing school.
This is on the similar track as #1, but a little different. One thing I remember vividly in nursing school is reading about different ethnic/religious groups and how they will act around medical treatment, etc.
While the intention was meant to promote culturally sensitive, these stereotypes have lead to a lot of microagressions, miscommunication, and feeding stereotypes.
If you don't understand, ask questions to the person and treat them like an individual. If you get it wrong, sincerely apologize for being ignorant.
4. Believe that lifting others up doesn't mean you will have less opportunity.
There is this idea that exists that there is not enough room for everyone to get opportunity without someone being left out.
This is a story that doesn't serve POC or white people. It is scarcity mindset that takes away power. The first step to taking your power back here is to believe that there is enough room for everyone to be successful and that everyone deserves the opportunity to find that success.
These are just four steps and there is so much more we can do. Let's raise our communities up. If you are able, check out the link below for local organizations to donate to support POC justice and police accountability, check out this link:
https://fundersforjustice.org/organizations/
I believe in you and all your possibilities.
Mary B.
P.S. If you want to catch up on previous blog posts for burnout support, go to: https://burnoutward.blogspot.com
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