The year 1920 was known as the  “roaring 20s.” It was a time of economic growth and prosperity following the devastation of war. The year 2020 has been a time of upheaval, displacement and economic uncertainty fueled by a public health war. To add fuel to this devastation, our country is once again confronted with the ugly results of our systemic racism. 

Today is #BlackOutTuesday. Together we can make this day more than a trending hashtag but a pivotal moment in creating lasting change. Racism is not a person of color problem, it is everyone’s problem. As Heather C. McGhee notes in the video below, “Racism is bad for white people too.” 

Use this day to contribute to change. There are so many ways big and small that you can move the needle and make this world a better, safer place for all people. Racism is not limited to encounters with the police, or people who use their privilege as a weapon. It is ever present in our communities, schools and boardrooms. We talk about microaggressions but people of color have to make micro adjustments every single day to simply be in this world. Help us create a world where we are innocent until proven guilty and not saddled by the weight of long held stereotypes strengthened by a culture of fear. 

Watch the video below to learn why racism is our problem and commit to change. 

If you are interested in learning more, please check out the resources below. Most importantly please see us, hear us and stand with us. Together we can create a world that is better for everyone.

• Tulsa Race Massacre.
• American Slavery: Separating Fact from Fiction
• The Secret Lives of Black Women
• Bearing Witness While Black by Allissa V. Richardson, Ph.D.
• Visit Array Now 
• White Women Aren’t Afraid of Black Women. They Want Power.
• How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi