There are some images that linger in your mind long after you’ve seen them—images that you wish you could erase. Recently, I came across a video depicting the tragic death of a man at the hands of police. I wish I could unsee it.
My heart raced. A tightness gripped my throat. Tears welled up in my eyes. Watching it made me confront my own responsibility. It forced me to acknowledge the uncomfortable truths within myself. There will be a part of my mind that wants to justify the actions taken, echoing phrases like: “He was a threat. He had a past. He was dangerous.” A part of me may seek to distance myself, to believe that my family and I are somehow separate from this tragedy. But that inclination is not just misguided; it’s deeply flawed.
We cannot find solace in diminishing the lives of those who have suffered such brutal fates. If we allow ourselves to make them “other,” we are missing the critical point of our shared humanity. I am a white woman. I cannot fully grasp what it means to be black in America, but that doesn’t absolve me of feeling the pain and devastation that comes from these injustices. We cannot turn away from our brothers and sisters in their suffering.
Please, do not rationalize these losses. If your thoughts drift toward justifications—terms like thug or threat—stop and watch the video again. Ask yourself, even if every accusation is true, what happened to due process? What happened to the part where a person is arrested and treated with dignity? Watch it closely. You may wish to erase it from your mind, but the suffering of others should stir something profound within us.
I have shared my journey with breast cancer, but this is a different kind of illness—one that affects us all. Some choose to ignore it, but the episodes of violence are symptoms of a deeply entrenched disease. We cannot heal unless we acknowledge our collective ailment: racism. We must be vulnerable and admit that we need help. We must nurture our souls with empathy and courage. We must be willing to sacrifice our comforts and face the discomfort of truth.
When I battled cancer, those who cared for me shared my burden. They sat with me, offered their support, and made sacrifices of their own. They felt my pain, even without sharing the same diagnosis. This connection made me feel less isolated, as if my struggle was also theirs.
I want to advocate for my black friends and their families who must teach their children how to navigate a world that often feels hostile. I stand with them because I believe, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “No one is free until we are all free.”
As I heal from my own illness, I am troubled by the societal sickness that persists. Watching that video is akin to receiving a diagnosis; it reveals a painful truth.
But what can we do? Honestly, I don’t have all the answers. The scope of these issues can feel overwhelming, leaving me feeling insignificant, like a mere drop in the ocean. However, I recently attended a performance by the Unity Arts Academy, an initiative established in response to the unrest in our communities. The founder, Jenna Smith, shared her vision of using music as a healing force.
As I watched a diverse group of students pour their hearts into a performance, the atmosphere shifted. Their final song, “Unity,” resonated deeply, and I couldn’t help but feel the power of their message. As they sang, we all stood together—young and old, white and black—holding hands in solidarity. It was a moment of healing, a collective acknowledgment of our shared humanity.
As I drifted off to sleep that night, the words, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,” echoed in my mind.
We must confront the narratives that attempt to divide us. There is no “other.” There is only us. As the insightful writer, Clara Jones, reminds us: “We belong to each other.” This crisis is real, and it is time for us to wake up. How many more lives must be lost before we recognize the urgency of our situation?
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Summary:
This reflection emphasizes the importance of confronting the societal issue of racism, recognizing our shared humanity, and advocating for one another. It draws parallels between personal struggles with illness and the collective fight against injustice, urging readers to engage with uncomfortable truths and foster connections across divides.