LISTEN AND LEARN

With the killing of George Floyd & the ensuing protests following the unprecedented (in our lifetimes) Covid-19 pandemic, there is much work to be done by everyone, especially white people. It is time that we stop, listen & learn from what our black brothers & sisters are emphatically telling us.

I don't pay much attention to the sensationalized news stories which are splashed across our TV screens. I am encouraged that my favorite white TV personalities are giving so many intelligent, capable black leaders extended time to discuss not only what is wrong with our country but to offer answers & solutions.

First of all, we have to understand that "white privilege" is real. The huge majority of white people haven't personally done anything to cause it. Rather by virtue of the fact that we are treated differently than black people simply because of our race is something that has been going on in the United States since its inception. The common cry this time is that we need to do something to stop it. I certainly haven't wanted to believe it but I am learning to accept that racism is still, STILL, a major problem in our country centuries later.

I've been watching Jimmy Fallon this week who did an informative show from home this past Monday talking to Derrick Johnson, president & CEO of the NAACP, and Don Lemon of CNN. Jimmy Fallon had been advised to simply ignore the recent controversy over a blackface skit on Saturday Night Live twenty years ago that resurfaced & just let it die down. Then the killing of George Floyd happened with all the riots & Fallon made the decision to not listen to that advice. He instead made a heartfelt apology & gave the floor to Johnson who praised him for not staying quiet & shared some good thoughts & insights. Including that we all need to continue the conversations & listen to each other.

Ellen deGeneres has been doing her show from  home & has spent all week discussing the issues with influential black people. Notably Keisha Lance Bottoms, mayor of Atlanta, & Val Demmings, Florida congresswoman, gave impassioned pleas for change. Both Fallon & deGeneres have stressed that white people need to change & be instrumental in demanding that our government needs to change.

Several black leaders have addressed the fact that everyone, black & white, needs to be able to make a mistake & not be crucified for that error. We are all human, we will make mistakes. But the goal is to learn from that mistake, make changes & move forward. In the meantime, let's be kinder to each other & allow them to falter. But let's also then listen to each other then show some empathy & respect toward our fellow Americans. We are all going to say or do the wrong thing sometimes.

This past week, our longtime Sacramento Kings announcer made a social media gaffe which cost him his job. He replied that "All Lives Matter" to a post of "Black Lives Matter" by a former player. Being the mother of a 44 year old white male, I didn't see the problem of that statement since my son's life matters just as much. BUT I learned a different perspective on those statements over the past few days . My son explained that if you say, "Save the Whales" & someone responds "Save All Sea Creatures", the message is yes, that is true, but right now, the whales need more help from us. It isn't an either/or statement.

Yesterday I saw photos of a young black girl holding a sign that read, "We Didn't Say ONLY Black Lives Matter." I get it now. Thanks for the education. Black Lives Matter.

Listening to an array of black leaders this past week, it is clear that no one is endorsing the rioting & looting & violence against others. I believe those people are a tiny minority who just want to destroy property, steal & cause mayhem. The huge majority of people are trying to continue the peaceful protests of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They made huge strides back in the 1960s & now it is time to make huge strides again. This time with ALL white people & ALL black people working together.

So what can we do? Derrick Johnson of the NAACP suggested that every white person make a new black friend. Then talk & listen to each other. That is excellent advice. Once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, I intend to do that. We can work in our own communities to change the laws governing the police. I still believe that the huge majority of police officers want to make our cities safer without using unnecessary violence. 

The common thread that I've heard from black leaders is for white people to truly listen, with an open mind, to what the black experience is in our country. Years ago I saw a former NFL wide receiver on TV. He was tall, extremely handsome, well-groomed & well-spoken. He lives in a nice part of town & drives a Mercedes. He said, "Not a week goes by that I don't pass a white woman on the street that she doesn't take her purse & hug it close to her body." I don't know the answer to stop this behavior but I know that we have to listen, accept our different experiences & unite as a country of concerned Americans who want to make this nation strong & welcoming for every citizen!

I will close with another common theme during this past week expressed by every one of the people I mentioned. We have no leadership in our country. Our president is a narcissist who is incapable of bringing this country together. WE MUST, WE MUST go to the polls (or mail in our ballots) & vote this man out of office. I could resort to all kinds of denigration & name calling but he isn't worth the effort. Instead let me leave you with a few quotes regarding Trump's leadership:

"We have a president who isn't capable of performing the job & doesn't understand the job. He doesn't talk like a leader, he talks like a dictator," Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator.

"America is a tinderbox & his tongue is a match," Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta mayor.

"He is a dictator in waiting & a threat to democracy. He is dangerous," Val Demmings, Florida congresswoman.

"His approval rating is plummeting. He can go for 100% disapproval & take credit for uniting the country," Jimmy Fallon. Just because we still need to laugh or we will be crying.

If you want to listen to any of these interviews they can be seen on YouTube. Search for the name & the show on which they appeared. Example: "Kamala Harris on Jimmy Fallon" or "Val Demmings on Ellen".