Diversity, Equity & Inclusion In Action
Updated: Jun 19, 2020
Removing Barriers, and Creating Economic Opportunities
We are experiencing two pandemics COVID-19 and racism. I've always seen racism as a plague on this nation without any real sustainable way of treating the symptoms or vaccinating citizens from hate and prejudice. I know there is an end to the novel corona virus. There doesn't seem to be an end to racism. I know that if we as a nation do not band together to dismantle our toxic environment of white supremacy, we cannot ever truly live in a free and just society. We will constantly be walking around with malignant racism festering in our bodies.
We are tired. We have been fighting our entire lives just to peacefully exist in this society. I will never understand what it will be like to be a black person in America. However, I stand with you. I am listening and I am angry. I value your lives and I will keep fighting for justice. If we stop protesting, I feel as if things will just go back to the way it was before #GeorgeFloyd, #AmaudArbery, #BreonnaTaylor, #PhilandoCastile, #TrayvonMartin, #EricGarner, on and on, so many names. So many beautiful lives lost.
Racial injustice isn't just in policing but effects education, economics, health outcomes, housing, jobs, and upward mobility. How can we address the systemic racism that has helped to advance and uplift one demographics of people at the expense of another. The game is rigged. People tell me that if "those people," could just help themselves, maybe their outcomes would be better. This is a false statement. If you were unable to own property, however worked for free to help others gain wealth for 400 years, and then when you are allowed to finally work towards education and economic equity, you and your family are red lined and discriminated against from jobs and services for 50 years; that is more a recipe for poverty than it is for wealth and success. The government makes it difficult to climb out of poverty because of racist policies.
"Equity is a promise that we can realize in this lifetime if we work together to advance community-led solutions resulting in transformation," Debra Gore-Mann is The Greenlining Institute’s President and CEO
Here is a link to 40 policy recommendations for local and state leaders to immediately address the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 and to start rebuilding our economy and to start creating pathways for economic opportunities for all. To turn campaign promises into reality we need to get into the thick of policy making and implementation. We do this through community and organizational collaboration and cooperation.
Be well, stay safe, and take care. Thank you.