That cultural thing no one likes to talk about

byRAWterri

184 followers

11 years ago

I was reminded of something I did last year that some people told me I was crazy--as in being reckless and naive--for doing so. I'll tell you what it was in a moment, but first, there are two things that made me even think about that impromptu deed.

The first thing was a forum I went to last night called SOLVING RACISM. It was sponsored by the Women's Federation for World Peace--Las Vegas Chapter, a group I volunteer with.

Yes, I know, that's a topic most people dread and try to avoid like the plague. That forum reminded me it doesn't have to be dreaded when looking at it correctly. In other words, seizing the correct definition of racism helps diminish its sting--well, a bit anyway.

Reflecting on the question of how to solve racism, I am glad a couple of the panelists pointed out that racism is NOT the same as having prejudices and bigotry in our hearts that play out in hateful acts of evil towards someone else soley because of the color of their skin, origin, etc.

In my short paraphrasing, racism is about institutionalised racism or better yet, structural discrimination. It's all about a strategy that creates the HAVES and the HAVE NOTS. Institutional racism has been built into the very fiber of this country from the beginning of time and always will be there. It is not our biggest problem. Racial and social disparity brought about by prejudice, ignorance and intolerance is really our problem.

I believe we can overcome those character flaws. Prejudice and intolerance comes from incompetence--more specifically cultural incompetence; ignorance about other people's origin. Therefore, education overcomes ignorance. I've always contended it has to start from within--one person at a time. What can one person do?

Each of us individually can practice cultural competence. What does it mean to be culturally competent? Very simply we must force ourselves to step outside our "groups" and really deeply learn about others, hence care about others, to bring about this competence.

That's what brings me to this second thing that reminded me of what I did last year. It's a video I saw on social media this morning. With thoughts of that forum swarming in my head, this video was extra compelling to me because it structuralism when it comes to racism. You've gotta see it! It's called the Freezing Homeless Child Experiment.

https://youtu.be/5CwCvpEMEJU.

Someone could watch this and think this has nothing to do with racism, if they're only thinking about racism as it relates to skin color. Actually this video does an excellent job of revealing our nation's institutionalized, socially conditioned way that we as citizens carry out our day.

This video depicts structural discrimination; whereas, the HAVES are satisfied with what they have to the extent of not caring enough about the HAVE NOTS to offer an opportunity for them to have also. This is a part of our society that is so horrible to watch. That "conditioning" in us to not step outside our comfort zone; not reach down; not reach back. It's just unacceptable.

Yes, I've been guilty of passing a homeless person sleeping on the sidewalk of Chicago's downtown streets while rushing to catch my train to my warm home. I must say, though, if the situation had been more in my face like in this video...hm... No, I could not have left a child sitting on the sidewalk with no coat on without having done something, anything. In five degree temps? Com'on people, what has become of us as a collective group?

So, here's the crazy thing I did one day last year...

Coming out of the grocery store, there was an older guy and two young guys (in their 20's) who approached me looking for a ride in "cold Las Vegas." Yes, it gets really cold here once in awhile. That particular day, it was like 30 degrees--which can feel like 20 degrees here in this desert. Anyway, their car broke down and they had no money for a bus ride home. They said they'd had been approaching people in that grocery store parking lot for 2 hrs and no one would give them a ride nor money. They had no coats on because they had not anticipated being out that long and the temperature had dropped significantly since they left home.

I gave them a ride. Their home was all the way across town. I had no idea I'd have to go that far but afterwards, the thought of them trying to get to that distance in the cold with no money or coats made me shutter. During our ride, they kept thanking me over and over. They were new in town--had just moved here a month or so earlier, which is why they couldn't tell me actually what side of town they lived on when I first asked them.

Yeah, that seemed a little sketchy at first that they couldn't tell me specifics about where they wanted me to drive them. Haha. I followed my spirit, though. Discernment overrules fear. That's why we build up our spirit man so that he serves us and leads us victoriously. Helps us to know the scammers from the honest ones. When I don't have discernment over a matter, I sadly must err on the side of safety.

Acting on our promptings is the best way to put our discernment into action. As humans, I know we all have a passing thought in our hearts to help someone when we see them in need, because we're designed to have those feelings. It's then our head--our conditioned mind--that quickly talks us out of acting on that prompting. We've got to break down that conditioning brought about thru the institution of racism.

Note to self: I must "tune in" more to my inner voice to overcome structural discrimination as a result of a conditioned mindset. There's so much work to be done out there in this big world. So much more I'm called to do, yet I too often let the "outer circumstances" outshine my inner light. It's about staying in a learning mode.

Did this video hit a sour note with you? Did it force you to dig deeper inside you to examine how to better embrace others?

What small prompting(s) have you acted upon that allowed you to step outside your self and help another?

RAWspectfully yours,

RAWterri

Get Your RAW On! Reach And Win!