12 C’s to a More Inclusive Society

Easy, yet difficult steps to eradicate racism

Compassion

Where change begins. Putting aside our biases and moving forward. Empathy and respect is a two-way street. As the latest catch-phrase goes: We’re all in this together.

Most believe that our racial divisions aren’t as deep as the media likes to portray. As a nation, we are more tolerant and less hateful. Fair enough, but people have to remain mindful that racism still exists.

Outside the sensational and publicized events, racism remains in its latent and quiet forms. We need to recognize the things we overlook nor pay mind to, which could trigger pain and anxious reminders to others.

People of color need to understand that whites want a better, more inclusive, and colorblind system. No one wants their fellow citizens targeted and singled out over skin color.

If and when whites are guilty of an oversight, it shouldn’t mean that they’re racist. Privileged, yes, to a fault. Whites shouldn’t be targeted, shamed, and vilified over it.

It’s what many have been taught and how they were raised. It’s not meant as an excuse nor a pass. Whites want to learn from it to make them better people and fellow citizens. Mindful and sensitive to others and their pain.

Civility

It begins with a mutual and shared agreement. The first steps to coordinate our shared future. Writing and practicing a new and revised racial contract.

Without respect and common courtesy, the effort will stall and die on the vine. Any hostilities must be curbed and absolved. Those who can’t follow this protocol must be left out. They don’t belong.

If people can’t behave and get with the program, they don’t deserve inclusion. It has to be earned. There’s plenty of room for everyone — those who practice civility.

Casualties

In any war, we’re going to have them. These are the usual suspects. The loud-in-the-crowders. The violent protestors, anarchists, and hate mongers. The ugly trolls and chat rooms inciting revolution.

This is about getting into our town and city halls as invited guests — not a pack of renegades storming the walls and burning down our institutions.

The militant, in-your-face stuff never works. The reason the haters always hate. Their attitude and short-sightedness keep them in the street, protestors for life.

The defiant remains defiant until the end. They wear it loud and proud, like a badge of honor. We know who they are. We see them and hear them. Let them misbehave —in a free society, they’re free to do so.

Until they change their ways and shed this hate, they’ll be left behind. Let it be their loss, not society’s. Let them practice savagery, not us.

Conversation

We see the brutal and fatal events that make the news and spur protest. The choke-holds and pleas for help. The injustices caught on cellphone video that reaches a global audience.

There is so much more to this and these stories. For every sensational event that reaches TV news and spurs protests, there are countless others. Events that have created hardened and suppressed feelings that need to be shared. An open and honest dialogue.

Listening to the stories that people have suffered through. The ones too painful to discuss since most go unreported. There are women of color who have been groped and fondled by police. Harrassed over minor infractions.

A countless number of misdemeanor offenses that have escalated. For every tragedy on a Minneapolis street corner to a Wendy’s in Atlanta, many too often end in violence. Human rights violated by rogue cops. These are the things that happen.

Before we can ‘hash things out’, all parties involved need a complete understanding of these plights. These are difficult, yet necessary conversations.

No more assuming we know it and get it. We have to hear it. The voices that speak in tone, pitch, and definition. Without trust, we won’t be able to have an honest and unapologetic dialogue.

It’s also the place where stereotypes go to die. Where tropes become people. It’s a messy stopover but needs to be faced and carried out.

Coalescence

Once we’ve earned and gained each other’s trust, our forged partnership becomes a pillar of strength. We need each other to move forward and see this through.

The coming together where we discover our commonality. That our wants and dreams are similar. We also realize that we are closer to humanity and spirit than further apart.

Community

There are many sections with people of color that don’t trust the white establishment. There’s also anger and hostility towards whites in general because of this.

I’m not implying these folks are hateful and racist. They’ve been wounded and their trust in our institutions has been compromised.

We need to speak to these people. They need to know and to be convinced, this movement is in their best interest. They need to be shown, not told.

They’ve been around the block too many times for another sales pitch. Everyone in these communities has experienced, witnessed, or knows someone personally who has been targeted and victimized.

Persecuted over the color of their skin, not by their actions. A rush to judgment with justice dealt on the spot. The legal protections and processes are in place for all of us.

This is a great opportunity for community organizers to flip the script. To get involved and make a change at the grassroots level. Besides shifting the narrative, the influencers could graduate to inner circles. The seats at the table when the movement graduates and reaches the city and town halls.

Collaboration

Once we’re together, we can collaborate. The mission’s objectives materialize. It’s growing from a street movement into a legal one. The realm of change.

The time where the movement reaches the town and city halls. Where visions are laid out, shared, and brought to life.

Taking our strengths and forging the coalition. People of color require the full support of whites. In return, whites require trust.

Compromise

It’s time to restore and rebuild the wheel — not reinvent it. The way and only way, things get done. The higher the reward, the higher the stakes. Since it’s our country — all of ours, it’s high time we dig up this treasure.

When it comes to police reform — the catalyst that spurred this dialogue, countless governors have already addressed their state assemblies. Change is coming — it’s on the agenda.

In order to craft a 21st Century vision for law enforcement, there will be others at the table. Voices, opinions, and agendas that will need to be heard and weighed.

Police unions are influential and will have a seat at the table. This is a reality. Some are easier to negotiate with than others. Again, it will have to be handled on a per diem basis.

There’s plenty of police administrations that want a better police culture. To build and cultivate a guardian philosophy. Police departments that are more relational and less adversarial.

Calls to defund and abolish police departments have been heard. It could be done if need be. These are extreme steps. If a police department is deemed beyond repair, it might need to be gutted-out and replaced.

Curriculum

How do we create a better future? How do we make sure we don’t hop the rails? Some of it is out of our hands.

Let’s start in the school system. There’s a rich history of Black America. This needs to be integrated into our curriculums. With the exception of the Emancipation Proclamation, which is primarily tied into Civil War studies, black history is ignored.

It’s an essential history that children need to learn. In turn, these kids will grow up mindful and educated about race relations. They’ll have a better understanding, respect, and value for blacks and their history. This alone will make them better people and fellow citizens.

Education could be the most important and long-term vision to finally end racism or most of it altogether. I’m not suggesting this should be the reason we incorporate more black history.

Black History ought to be taught for the sake of history itself. There are countless contributions black Americans have made throughout America’s timeline. These legacies need to be discovered, shared, and honored.

Choice

The wildcard and equalizer. This isn’t only about our country and society. Our greater world. It’s about our humanity.

All of us get to decide. Despite not being in the process at any juncture, much less the bargaining table.

Even for those of us shocked into this narrative. The initial video of George Floyd being murdered at the hands of Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis P.D.

Sheltered-in-place as the BLM movement sprang and swelled. Human tsunamis in every major U.S. city. Inspiring and spawning BLM marches in countless foreign cities.

All of us can decide our fate and future by deciding our present. If not, it will be decided for us. And guess what? It won’t be in our best interest.

Instead, it will be handled by others. The power elite and splinter groups. The extremists and saboteurs. Instead of evolution, we’ll all suffer the devolution of this wasted opportunity.

Consequences

Consequences will unfold and be present whether we like them or not. In the future, they will show up.

There will be consequences tomorrow from today's agendas and actions. We’ll know how we did by where we are.

There are consequences for doing well, not enough, or nothing at all. If we can’t come together, the situation worsens.

Courage

We have to muster the valor to be vulnerable in our quest. To remain brave in the face of resistance to achieve our shared goals. The courage to weigh the risk and outcome. The strength and fortitude to believe it’s important and worth it.

The courage to have faith in one another. To stay the course and make the change that will benefit us all. Our world, our humanity, and our shared future.

Let’s avoid the 13th C — Catastrophe.