MY REFLECTIONS
By Karen Cusey - Executive Assistant for External Affairs, Center for Economic Inclusion
For two years in my late 20’s, I lived at the intersection of 38th and Longfellow in Minneapolis, less than 1 mile east of what is now George Floyd Square. I still love that vibrant, bright, artistic neighborhood, filled with friendly faces, wonderful food, and many small businesses. Then as now, I could walk, shop, eat, and pretty much do anything there without fear of being harmed by police.
In my ignorance at that time about police brutality and mistreatment of Black citizens, I thought my Black neighbors and I enjoyed the same level of safety and security in our neighborhood. And I assumed that police violence against people of color only happened in other cities.
If that were true, George Floyd and the astounding number of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian people who have been murdered by police would still be alive today. Here with their families, in their communities, living their lives. Police violence should not happen anywhere.
As a straight, white, middle-aged, college-educated woman, I am aware of my privilege. So, I know it is on me – my responsibility – to use that privilege to drive change in my little corner of the world.
Over the past few years, I have learned so much by attending DEI workshops, through books, listening to my friends and family of color, and following leaders whose vision for an equitable world inspires systems change to achieve racial equity on a global scale.
With intention, I have spent more time living, learning, and making friends with people different than me, well outside the comfort of echo chambers that exist in my community and on social media. I point out to friends and family when I recognize they are being racist, and share books, websites, and tools for anti-racist actions.
Many of these conversations result in upset. The truth is we cannot make real change if we only talk to people who agree with us. We must commit to engaging in the hard conversations -- within ourselves and with one another -- to grow as individuals and improve the world we share.
I want to make the world better for everyone, not just myself. White people should not need to benefit directly from racial equity work to see its value.
It is about making things right. Black lives matter.
ABOUT THE REFLECTIONS CAMPAIGN
After a year of reckoning with the ravages of racism in our schools, businesses, neighborhoods, and halls of justice, we see clearly that racism is deeply woven into every fiber of our society and that the consequences have touched each person in America. We see the depths of division and racism and the imperative to work in new ways to address very old problems.
The Center for Economic Inclusion invited leaders at all levels and from across sectors to share their reflections of the past year; several members of the Center’s staff have also participated. We wanted to learn how they have reckoned with racism over the past year; what is different in the places where they live, work, and play; what they think the the future holds; and what they think it will take to reimagine and build an economy that truly works for everyone.
We thank the leaders who answered our call to participate in this campaign. All week long, we will share their powerful reflections, in their own words.
> To engage with our entire Reckoning to Rise Together series, click here.