How do we end racism?
What would you do if you were given the responsibility of finding a solution to this longstanding, now systemic problem?
That was the exact task given to a group of 30 young leaders in Winnipeg: figure out how to eradicate racism.
Joseph Ranseth said eradicating racism is a goal we may never realize. He pointed to Martin Luther King Jr., who was successful in getting a civil rights bill passed in the United States, but never realized the full reality of the dream he had talked about in his most famous speech.
I actually don’t believe that “eradicating racism is a goal we may never realize” but I did point to the references of Gandhi & Dr. King to emphasize that while we may achieve the political victories we seek, we aren’t truly successful until we achieve the inner & cultural changes as well.
Dr. King was successful in getting the Civil Rights bill passed, and Gandhi was successful in getting the British Empire out of India, but both died before they could see their full vision of equality realized. In both cases, eradicating poverty was part of the next step, as well as achieving a culture of mutual respect and appreciation between races, religions and social status.
Here in Winnipeg, we have work to do in the systemic side (both political and cultural) as well as on the individual level. But we are making progress.
Here’s a quick video of some of the highlights of our discussion:
This was a very powerful day and I’m grateful to have been included. Any dialogue that’s honest – no matter how messy it gets – is constructive and will create, if nothing more, empathy, which is the root of meaningful relationships.
To continue the work of eradicating racism, we need to raise our voices for the political issues, but also learn to exercise our empathy and look at ourselves – and others – as equals.
(For more on this topic, check out my TEDx talk: Who Moved My Unicorn?)
Joseph, this is great! Really really great. This historical moment is one of great intensity, and I’m thrilled to see positive movement in this realm. Carry on! I’m sharing your post, and am keeping my eye on you, let’s do this! xx Angela
Thank you for stopping by Angela and for the kind comment. This is important work, that we all need to be engaged in, and I’m lucky to be around great people in the same cause.
Thanks for sharing this important event. I agree that it’s important for this discussion and dialogue to continue forever. I think it’s possible t change individual people ad improve the world, but I do not think it’s possible to end racism in our society. There will always be people who use race as a tool to make themselves feel better and more powerful. We can change many things, and events like this is part of the reason why. Thank you for taking your time to make a positive contribution to this important discussion.
Perhaps I’m a bit more optimistic, but I see a day when all people have evolved so much that they longer feel the need to put others down and are filled with a love from within. It’s utopian, perhaps, but when you look at how far we’ve come over the years, and with the rapid increase in the evolution of consciousness due to technology, I don’t think it’s a far cry to see us all grow to a place that we truly work together because we’ve done the inner work required to let peace prevail.
Thanks for stopping by. Every bit of dialogue is important, and these discussions help keep the issue top of mind and help us all remember to be compassionate instead of judging, to come together instead of push apart.
I wonder if “eradicating” racism is possible. Wouldn’t it be more effective to foster love, acceptance, and peace? To me, “eradication” is trying to fight negative with negative.
Absolutely Kim. I’m all on board with using positive language instead of negative… it’s absolutely critical in what I do and teach as well. Ending racism, however, is a tangible metric that we can work toward. Just like getting rid of cancer. I don’t believe the best way to get rid of cancer is to simply cut ourselves open and literally remove, but to create the conditions within the body for it to no longer live. While the essence of that is really promoting health, the tangible metric is still “no more cancer”. Love, acceptance, empathy, compassion, relationship building, etc are the ways that we’ll get there – and those are all positive, affirmative actions – but the end goal we are measuring against (at least in this current conversation) is seeing racism disappear.
Joseph, infusing the world with a grace and love mentality is my life mission and I believe it is the ONLY way to eradicate racism. After all, there is only one way to end the dark. Turn on the Light!! Love this. Thanks for doing the good work in the world!!
Yes, exactly right Wendi. Thank you so much. And thank you for coming by!