A generation ready to rise…
On Sunday, June 7th I went back to the town I grew up in and witnessed and saw a glimmer of hope for the future to end racism and the social inequalities that have existed day in and day out for decades. My reflection today is from my perspective, I am no expert, nor do I walk in the shoes of a person of color daily, in fact I came from a town of white privilege and was afforded opportunities that I know full well are not the case for so many. Medfield is a small town about 45 minutes south of Boston and for most of my life and time in the public schools was more than 85% white. The peaceful rally which made up of over 1000+ people was in solidarity, in deep listening and peace for a better way forward. I attended the peaceful rally with my mom, sister, her daughter and my daughter Emma. It was something about the moment there that made me think about where the world has been in the past, where we are now, and how we want and are choosing to move forward. I started this blog during the pandemic and it was from my lens, a lens that comes from a white woman, working full time and raising a young family. I brought my daughter to the rally and did not explain to her what we were doing. She held a sign and started to sing with the people Black Lives Matter. It told me that she was listening. I cannot eloquently speak to the collective feeling that the black community must feel but I do know a few things of what I’d like to share with my own children.
RISE. We must raise each other up by not “staying in our white lane”, we must elevate and be allies to each other.
KINDNESS. Our day to day lives with our brothers and sisters must be led with kindness and hand and hand
EQUAL WORKFORCE. We must find ways to systematically elevate and dismantle leadership structures that are one race
EMPATHY and RESPECT. We must listen more to those that are struggling right now.
LOVE. We must love and lead with love.
LIGHT. We must bring light even in times that we are weary or scared.
COURAGE. We must speak our voices to support others even if you are the only one in the room to speak up.
DIGNITY. We must lean into conversations that make you feel physically and mentally uncomfortable. That discomfort is deep seated and it has to be held with care and listened too. Don’t run away from that. Be with it. Hold space for that person, and send more love to it.
FEELINGS. Anger and hate are never about you. More love is needed there. Stay with it.
MINDFULNESS. The mind must be peaceful in order to carry you to your next step, keep that garden growing with water and peace.
HOPE. Actions speak louder than words.
YOUR VOICE. There are many forms to make your voice be heard, there’s more than one way to get where you’re going or how to support someone.
Our Vibration. We will not get it right the first time. And maybe not even the hundredth time. But don’t give up. And don’t forget about where we are and where we are going when things may see like they “settle down”…keep your vibration always alive in the spirit of peace and kindess. Your words matter, your action matters, and all of our breaths that we breathe on this planet in this time space reality matter. So let your vibration sound peacefully to all humans so we can keep our light on for each other. For a more well rounded place to live. For more peace. More harmony. More way ways to listen with compassion and an open heart. That is what I hope to show my children.
The final moment of the day that stuck with me was my dear friend had made a sign and said she had gotten a paper cut from it so there was blood on the sign. I said, that is ok. We are all one blood here. A black woman passed me as I said it with hopeful eyes and said “Amen”. For me, it was a moment of connection. We are one blood. It is our responsibility every day to find ways to create a more just, equal, and loving human race that breathes love and connection through all the seams of our earth. It may take some time, but if we all do our part, we pave the way to a peaceful world.
