“Stand with the demonized so that the demonizing will stop. And you stand with the disposable, so that the day will come when we stop throwing people away. And you stand with those whose dignity has been denied. And you stand with those whose burdens are more than they can bear. And you stand with the poor and the powerless and the voiceless. Make those voices heard.”
Father Gregory Boyle
Founder, Homeboy Industries
Dear one,
Where do you stand?
I was talking with a friend last night about his recent firsthand experience with racism in our community. My friend is a person of color, so the word recent is a throwaway in that sentence because ‘firsthand experience with racism’ is the first bullet point on the CV of every black and brown person in this country.
A few days ago I was talking with another friend about diversity and inclusion. We shared some of the same frustrations and are making plans to get together for a conversation about what we can do to counteract the frustrations and begin laying the groundwork for positive change.
People whose pronouns fall outside the binary are stigmatized for existing and daring to voice their truths. People of trans experience, too.
I ask again, where do you stand? Each of the examples above are of issues that don’t allow for spectators; you’re either with them or against them. And if you don’t speak up and speak out when you witness oppression, you’re supporting the offense.
Never forget that I love you, and that excludes no one.
Love,
