Be Brave… and Kind… and Gentle… and Good to Each Other
Yesterday, I was at the alternative high school where I work, and the students had made some posters about human rights violations and abuses. I was asked to take part in the gallery walk and I was SUPER IMPRESSED with the work these students had produced. One of the posters tackled slavery in the Americas… both boys who produced the poster were African American. I have a good relationship with both of these young men, and during the gallery walk I began a conversation with one of them.
In our conversation, I was able to ask some pretty difficult questions and we were able to discuss SOME aspects of slavery and how the after effects still linger and manifest in this current moment. BUT… I had MORE that I WANTED to ask and talk about… but I wasn’t brave enough. Recently, I have learned a lot of information about slavery I NEVER knew before, and I WANTED to discuss some of these things with this young man and to get his thoughts and reactions and have a real and honest conversation. I didn’t.
But in not following what my heart was asking, I realized something. If there is going to be healing and movement forward in this world in a positive direction, some really tough, dangerous, and possibly even hurtful conversations and discussions will be necessary. This will NOT BE EASY! Oftentimes, we will probably not succeed. BUT… IF we can be brave, kind, gentle, and good to each other, I KNOW this world can be a better place, for ALL OF US!