I continually struggle with taking responsibility for my participation in racism. It has been painful to admit the harm that I bring to my children, my husband and dear friends. Yet, in this I’m violating an agreement I hold to share my perspective responsibly. My perspective lands squarely as a white person which means I will never be outside of the protection and toxicity of white dominance until it’s dismantled.
So, how could I do better?
Some possibilities:
- More vulnerability about my struggles and my defiance in admitting those struggles.
- Position myself daily as a learner, stop showing up as “whiteness as expert”.
- Less “you white people should” and more “As a white person I must”.
- Turning you/we/they/them into me/I.
- Create ways to call white people into learning rather than perfection and deflection.
- Model responsibility aka *my ability to respond* (thank you Hanif) and normalize that process by doing it often and publicly.
To my children, my hubby, and my community of lovely humans who know I should and can do better, I’m sorry.
I commit to implement these possibilities in my life and how I show up. Please publicly check me anytime you see me posting, talking, facilitating, etc in a way that falls short of my intention to model personal responsibility in dismantling white dominance.
