White People: Don’t Make it About You

Support People of Color

There are protests, marches, violence, flames. There are feelings of truth and deep anger, visceral pain, and guttural grieving stretched over the score of 400 years.

This is our Nation in distress.

Windows are being smashed and buildings burned and looted by subterfuge entities. Covert and overtly siphoning off the truth, the cause, the implications undeniably shackled right here, right now in the year 2020.

Another Black man murdered in broad daylight. A Black teen recording the scene. She’s being threatened and her nightmares are now inconsolable and tragic daydreams. She’s seen too much at 17.

Let’s witness this time for what it is. Racism gone rogue — once again.

White supremacy is the navigating theme hiding under the White House (built on the shoulders of Black slaves). White supremacy is roaming the streets, sitting in a living room, eating dinner right next to you.

Implicit and complicit are whites who ignore and deny there is a severe crisis.

Look around our cities are burning to the ground. What will it take to get our attention?

The umbilical cord of trust, equality, and respect has cut off oxygen so People of Color cannot breathe. This is the effect and the cause stems from deep-seated hatred because for too long whites see diversity as an enemy.

BUT

Diversity is the seed, the plant, the hope, the dreams, and love.

Diversity is the strength, the spice, the bones, the soul of this nation.

Diversity is the factor that will heal us once we feel it, believe it, and see the gifts inside of this immense truth.

White people, listen and learn: People of Color are the backbone of this very nation. The backbone that has been stepped on for too long.

Open your hearts and see what hell we’ve done through the generations.

THIS is the time to make a change. Read. Learn. Speak. Shout. Write. Sing. Dance. Honor. Respect.

Listen and really hear this: Support People of Color.

Not to rescue. Not to placate. Not to be superior — in case you haven’t heard white people aren’t superior. Don’t make this moment about YOU.

Instead — be an ally.

Carolyn Riker, MA, LMHC, is a licensed psychotherapist and author of three books of poetry and prose. Her latest is My Dear, Love Hasn’t Forgotten You. If you’d like, follow her on Facebook at Carolyn Riker, MA, LMHC or Instagram.