White people, it’s time to stand up for what’s right. Use your privilege for the betterment of society.
It’s hard to put together a running focused post for today. It would be completely tone deaf and frankly impossible for me to write. So I’m going to depart from that and speak to something much more important.
It seems like ever since March of this year, it’s been extremely hard to focus on anything but current events. Every blog post that I’ve written has been a struggle. Between coronavirus, running events being canceled, death and destruction — it’s just all so heavy.
And today unfortunately isn’t any easier. So here goes.
Privilege
I’m a white woman living with privilege that I did not ask for. But I recognize that I have it and I recognize I need to use it for good. I need to leave this world a better place than I received it. I need to leave it better for my children, for my athletes, and for my friends.
I distinctly recall several times last track season when my young black male athletes would come to practice and tell me how excited they were that they got their drivers license. Or that they had big events planned with their friends for the weekend. And you know what I always said to them?
Be careful.
I said “be careful” not because they were children with a brand new drivers license. I was saying it to them because they were black in America.
Let that sink in.
These are high school kids. That I had to say be careful to. Because I’m terrified for their lives. That is a sad, harsh reality.
But I saw (and see) what happens to black people and I desperately want to keep “my” kids safe. MY kids have amazing qualities about them. They’re not only tremendous athletes but amazing people. MY kids are caring friends and funny individuals. MY kids have their whole lives ahead of them. And my biggest fear is that their lives will be cut short.
That’s a horrifying prospect for a coach. I can’t imagine being their mother.
This has to end and it has to end NOW.
Black lives matter. Full stop.
I am only one white person out of a sea of many. But because I’m white, I have privilege and I will use it. I’m already a card-carrying member of the ACLU but that’s not enough. I may not be able to go to protests and join the boots on the ground, but that doesn’t mean I should do nothing.
Instead, I’ll be participating in discussions, donating, listening, learning. And muting myself. I want to be the best ally I can and that starts with letting people of color speak and be heard.
Below is a non-exhaustive list I’ll be using to start; I hope you’ll join me.
Privilege
White people, it’s time to stand up for what’s right. If you have feelings of helplessness, do something. Donate, raise awareness. Protest. Use your privilege.
But most importantly, it doesn’t matter what color you are — VOTE. Change starts at the local and state levels. Make your voice heard.
We MUST do better.
Black lives matter. Full stop.
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