I didn’t write this to rehash the details of their deaths, that is being done in the news. It isn’t to charge, try, convict, or punish the parties involved in their deaths. Justice needs to prevail and is best served in an unbiased court. This also isn’t to memorialize them. They each deserve to be remembered. I hope those who create the memorials will do their best to honor them.
Instead I want to offer one tiny contribution to the needed solution. I write. So, I think about words and how we use them.
Why do we use the word ‘race’ to first unite as in ‘we are the human race’? Then to divide by saying ‘black race’, ‘brown race’, ‘red race’, ‘white race’, ‘yellow race’, and ‘mixed race’? Why doesn’t everyone have a serious case of whiplash? Using it to mean both is doublespeak. Language is powerful and can unite or divide.
Division leads to distrust. A divided people will keep themselves occupied by fighting each other. This allows the few who pull the strings of our societies for their own power and pleasure to continue.
Pictures from around the world show people coming together for one cause. They are standing against mistreatment of others because of their skin color. Changes are needed to make our world a better place and to hold abusers accountable.
What if instead of calling it racism we change it to bias? If necessary, add color or ethnic in front of the word if some people don’t understand. At least people will acknowledge we are one race, if only initially in language. Could this lead to a shift in how people see each other?
We still need to acknowledge and celebrate our differences including color. They make each of us unique and interesting. What if we learned to be curious about each other’s differences instead of fearful? People travel the world to enjoy a variety foods and culture. There’s so much we can learn from each other.
Are we up to the challenge? We need to be.
J K Metz 