One question.

Watched the movie 13th last night. I thought I knew the issue. I really was not prepared for what I saw. I believed education and programs of support like safe after-school places etc would keep young people away from paths crime. I had the THE solution!!!!…Education! Once the stereotyping ends, the issue of racism will end, we as a society just need commitment to change and then commitment of resources to bring the change…simple enough!

I slept past 2 am after, at times, heated discussions with my daughter duo, who insisted I watched the movie with them. We disagreed about role of reforms, role of law and order and while they believed the most important step is awareness I felt that would be role of education and opportunities.

I must say, after thinking it through more, I did realize the issue is about awareness, more than anything. Awareness that this is happening, awareness that it is wrong and awareness that we can and need to do something about this. Because when we are aware we can then take steps to cure. And the sooner we would, the sooner we can heal as a society. As my daughter pointed out it is not enough that a black man is a surgeon, what happens when he is not wearing the white coat and running in the neighborhood, or is stopped at light…would he be presumed to have done something wrong? The white coat would not be shielding him then…and even when he is wearing it what is more pronounced? the white coat or the color of his skin?

I retreat from my position that a multi-prong approach of education and support, counseling will eventually solve the issue. I agree unless we accept it is real and that it is wrong and that I want to be part of solution to make a change in centuries of beliefs and oppression, any education and support won’t do any good, it would just be a bandaid.

Unless you are at the receiving end of racism you would not understand what it can do to the morale. How demeaning the stereotyping a whole community as criminals can be. I really am not sure how this can be achieved, after all the slavery, the lynching, the discrimination and incidents of brutality are a public knowledge. It is not like if I knew I would stop it. Everything is out there, so what has to happen for us all to accept it and act on it?

One statement that resonated with me the most out of the movie, which kept me up at night even after I went to bed at 2 am and made me retreat from original position was, “if I was there when the slavery happened, if I was there when the segregation happened, I would stand up against it…”

It asks me where I am standing today? and What I am doing about it?