Have a question or comment? Connect with me at Julie.shipman@jwsgroupllc.com
There have been some incredibly bold and poignant pieces written with the title “Black Lives Matter” in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Are you reading them? Will you make changes in your life because of them? Are you introspective about what it means to be black? To be human? To be inclusive? Are you thinking about what you can do? Little actions can create lasting change.
As a Career Coach, HR professional and simply as a human being, I’ve been grappling with what this all means and how I can be part of the solution. Those 8 minutes are excruciating. I have not been able to bring myself to watch the entire thing yet. But I will. I will because I need to face something that has harmed an entire race of people for generations. George’s 6 year old daughter knows that her “Daddy changed the world” and that is powerful. For her and for our nation. I can’t wait to see what she does with that knowledge as she grows into the depth of it.
How are you changing the world…….your piece of it?
Shola Richards wrote a post on Facebook. It went viral. It’s making people really think about what it means to not feel safe walking in your OWN neighborhood. You can read more about it here: https://www.today.com/parents/dad-explains-viral-post-why-he-won-t-walk-alone-t182797
The Lake Street Council in Minneapolis is providing resources and loans to small businesses that were affected by rioters and looters following George Floyd’s death. Learn more or donate here: https://www.visitlakestreet.com/business-recovery-help
There are several authors who have written extensively on the subject. A current stand out is the book “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo https://www.amazon.com/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism/dp/0807047414
Begin to think about things that you can do in your community. They don’t have to be grand, sometimes simple gestures mean everything.
Little actions create lasting change. If every person says “the change starts with me” think about what we can do, together.