Feb 20, 2023
On this week’s episode I
acknowledge the intense pain Black Americans have endured for
centuries, as we continue to honor Black History Month. And
although tremendous progress has been made, the institutional
racism in this country is pervasive, persistent and very
painful.
I feel it is my responsibility and the responsibility of White
Americans to not only admit to this troubling history of pain, but
to look this pain in the eye. So many of the deaths of young Black
people that have occurred in the past few months, are so layered in
trauma. The vicious combination of tragic, shocking violence is
infused in these racially horrific deaths. I am thinking of the
pain and suffering for those beaten, tortured and murdered as well
as the unspeakable suffering for their surviving loved ones.
And I say to myself:
Don’t look away. Don’t look down. Don’t pretend not to see
hurt.
Look people in the eye. Even when their pain is
overwhelming.
May we have the courage to look pain in the eye, to show up with
compassion and humility and tenderly hold one another. Enjoy the
podcast!
Links:
Brené
Brown Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the
Language of Human Experience