To be honest I keep just seeing so much pain and suffering in every direction so much confusion I honestly don't know which way to turn anymore all I can do as a person is treat each and every person with respect and care and hope we can come together and knock down the walls and anger and misunderstanding and begin to listen ♥️😭♥️😭💪💪
Rachel, thanks for sharing your struggles. I hear you. This is a quote by Mother Teresa: "Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” It helped me focus on people who are near me when I felt helpless about the bigger world. xo
I think a lot of us are feeling helpless right now, no matter the color of our skin. We want change and it isn't happening fast enough. We want the police brutality to end. We want solutions. We want peace, freedom, and equality. Like you, I have become painfully aware of the privilege and relative safety my skin color gives me. My African American and African friends are not so lucky. My heart aches for them and I feel helpless to comfort them. They already know and trust my love, but I am only one person. Yet, we can all do something. Little actions add up. Tiny grains of sand come together to make magnificent beaches. Even the action of writing and sharing this letter is helpful. You will find little things that you can do to contribute. Don't give up. Never give up.
Thank you for sharing what you are experiencing, Shirley. I won't give up. I cannot unknow what I already know, and giving up on justice will bring me more pain than less. I believe in the power of collective action, and it will only work if every grain of sand actually takes part in it.
Linda, this whole situation is difficult. Many of us who are white, want to think differently about the situation. We want to be different and make a difference, but we also feel overwhelmed by our own COVID reality. I have a daughter who is single mom, I have a grandson who needs watching when she is at work. I have an aging mother out of state and aging in-laws in a different state. I find it hard to get out of bed and face the challenges of my own chaotic life, let alone help my black brothers and sisters fight the challenges they are facing. But maybe, I can at least make a difference by having conversations with my grandson; being loving and kind to my daughter's black neighbors and by showing the same sort of respect to the elderly black as I would to my own parents. That is something I can do. I have those feelings of failure as well, but that is not what defines us. Thanks for posting your thoughts. - Amy
Amy, I really appreciate everything you wrote here. Individuals have their own challenges, and without you telling me, I wouldn't have known any of yours. I love the things you listed as what you can do to share the love and take part in the BLM movement. I truly believe talking to our children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews about racism will make a difference. It is an act of love not just for BIPOC but also for our young family members: helping them open their eyes and culture empathy for others in suffering. Love, Linda
It is very comforting to see the amount of people people feel the same. Thanks for writing and sharing this.
Belkis, thanks for reading my letter and sharing your thoughts. I'm happy that you found comfort in this community.
To be honest I keep just seeing so much pain and suffering in every direction so much confusion I honestly don't know which way to turn anymore all I can do as a person is treat each and every person with respect and care and hope we can come together and knock down the walls and anger and misunderstanding and begin to listen ♥️😭♥️😭💪💪
Rachel, thanks for sharing your struggles. I hear you. This is a quote by Mother Teresa: "Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” It helped me focus on people who are near me when I felt helpless about the bigger world. xo
I think a lot of us are feeling helpless right now, no matter the color of our skin. We want change and it isn't happening fast enough. We want the police brutality to end. We want solutions. We want peace, freedom, and equality. Like you, I have become painfully aware of the privilege and relative safety my skin color gives me. My African American and African friends are not so lucky. My heart aches for them and I feel helpless to comfort them. They already know and trust my love, but I am only one person. Yet, we can all do something. Little actions add up. Tiny grains of sand come together to make magnificent beaches. Even the action of writing and sharing this letter is helpful. You will find little things that you can do to contribute. Don't give up. Never give up.
Thank you for sharing what you are experiencing, Shirley. I won't give up. I cannot unknow what I already know, and giving up on justice will bring me more pain than less. I believe in the power of collective action, and it will only work if every grain of sand actually takes part in it.
Linda, this whole situation is difficult. Many of us who are white, want to think differently about the situation. We want to be different and make a difference, but we also feel overwhelmed by our own COVID reality. I have a daughter who is single mom, I have a grandson who needs watching when she is at work. I have an aging mother out of state and aging in-laws in a different state. I find it hard to get out of bed and face the challenges of my own chaotic life, let alone help my black brothers and sisters fight the challenges they are facing. But maybe, I can at least make a difference by having conversations with my grandson; being loving and kind to my daughter's black neighbors and by showing the same sort of respect to the elderly black as I would to my own parents. That is something I can do. I have those feelings of failure as well, but that is not what defines us. Thanks for posting your thoughts. - Amy
https://stylingrannymama.com/
Amy, I really appreciate everything you wrote here. Individuals have their own challenges, and without you telling me, I wouldn't have known any of yours. I love the things you listed as what you can do to share the love and take part in the BLM movement. I truly believe talking to our children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews about racism will make a difference. It is an act of love not just for BIPOC but also for our young family members: helping them open their eyes and culture empathy for others in suffering. Love, Linda