Racism is a hot topic right now. In many parts of the world, there are eruptions of emotions since the recent deaths of multiple Black people in the USA. The tension feels thick between Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) and White people. Some of my White colleagues are nervous when talking about anything that has to do with racism for fear of being called racist. Friends and colleagues keep asking me “how are you feeling?” about everything going on. The news focuses on the protests and rioters, turning the deaths of Black people in America into a political land mine. All the while I’m looking at my innocent beautiful son, wondering what the world will look like when he’s a grown Black man.
And I have this immense peace.
I still care
Don’t get me wrong. Like many BIPOCs, I have experienced racism. I’ve been called the N-word. People have told I don’t belong in Canada. Black people and White people have said I’m not really “Black” and been called an “apple”. Yet, the anger I once felt about all these acts of racism is not longer there.
Am I numb to the effects?
Have I given up my hope for change?
Do I simply not care anymore?
The answer is no. It still hurts to be consciously and purposefully discriminated against based on the amount of melanin my skin produces. I pray that this world will change for the better so that my beautiful children do no experience racism. And I continue to try to educate those who are interested on the impact stereotypes, prejudices, and oppression have on ethnic and racial minorities.
However, I have simply come to realize that spending all my energy and time being angry, annoyed, and cynical is just adding to the problem, not solving it. Please, don’t misunderstand that statement for “I am okay with racism”. I am not okay with racism. It is an aspect of evil and I am not okay with evil. But I have decided I will not feed into the hatred racism thrives upon.
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Peace reigns
Now why do I have peace about racism? (By the way, “peace” doesn’t equal “not caring” or “inaction”. I’ve also learned to ensure my peace is not dependent on my circumstances, otherwise it’s near impossible to have true peace if peace is based on this world. But I digress…)
Not everyone and everything is racist
I’m going to be bold and say part of my peace has to do with believing there are some awesome people in this world and not everyone is racist. Racism has a lot to do with the heart, the intention behind the behaviour. Unless you’re God, you won’t know whether someone is being racist because you cannot know what is in a person’s heart unless they tell you. So I choose to give people the opportunity to show me who they are before I determine they are racist. I look at the fruit of their inner person.
What does this actually look like? Well, it’s like when a non-Black friend touches my hair. Are they racist? Or is their action rude but they themselves are in awe of my hairstyle? I was the only Black student in my medical school class year. Is that because the medical program is racist? Or are they not getting enough qualified Black students? I was stopped by a police officer on my way to work last year. Is it because they saw a Black driver and thought I was up to no good based on the colour of my skin? Or is it because I wasn’t driving with my headlights on at that time of night, which is against the law?
Does racism exist?
Oh man, I feel some of ya’ll may be thinking “nope, those are instances of racism”. Let’s agree to disagree. I’m not trying to say racism doesn’t exist. It definitely does. I spend lots of time informing medical staff, colleagues, and medical students how certain thinking and actions perpetuate racism. But I also try not to assume people’s thinking and actions mean they themselves are racist. Someone can be rude, disrespectful, inconsiderate, naïve, ignorant, proud, bitter, resentful, foolish, dangerous, deceitful, and more. Those traits don’t automatically make a person or system racist. Racism does exist but it does not exist everywhere.
I truly believe we should stop spending every moment of our lives looking for racism in everything and everyone.
Not all of life’s circumstances are good but I choose to use them for my good.
I’ve got faith
The other reason I’m at peace right now is because of some bold faith. I know that no matter what happens, this world won’t ruin me. As much as people and institutions and random events may want to try and destroy me, they can’t and I won’t let them. People can be as terrible as they want, but I will not let their evil reign in my life. The evil that exists in this world does not determine my life, as much as it might try. Instead, I will use the power within me to conquer evil, not perpetuate it.
That means even if someone is racist toward me. Yes, even if I was admitted to medical school solely based the colour of my skin. Even if, even if, even if. I believe no matter what, all things will work together for my good. Not all of life’s circumstances are good but I choose to use them for my good.
My decision
I choose to look for the good in others, in systems, in circumstances, and help develop goodness. I choose to look for ways to love people, through serving where I can and through encouraging people to be better and do better. I choose to be gentle in my correction of wrong-thinking and hateful actions, whether based on race or not. I choose to be kind even when others are rude, to speak kindly of others as I would want them to do of me. I choose to be patient with those who don’t understand how their actions are harmful.
My question for you is this: how are you responding to the racism that exists in this world?
Be angry, sin not
Standing by and letting evil persist is wrong. If you see a clear act of racism, stand against it. But you can’t incorporate the problem into a solution and expect things to be different. You shouldn’t go around looting stores, physically or verbally attacking people who look different from you just because you’re angry, saying all White people are racist, hurting police officers because they’ve hurt BIPOCs, etc. and expect change; that’s doing to your oppressors what they do to you. That is spreading darkness in an already dark world. It makes you no different from the people hurting you. It makes you part of the problem and not the solution.
Call to action
So I challenge you today (as I challenge myself regularly) to be the light in this dark and messed up world. Let’s not be part of the problem and conform to how others are “solving” the issues. Let’s be kind and be good. Be gentle and loving. Let’s be patient and peaceful as well as be joyful. Let’s be faithful. Speak the truth in love. And let’s exhibit some self-control.
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Share your thoughts with me, sis. Comment below on how you’re responding to racism.
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Vee Mawoyo
I balance the roles of mother, wife, Family Medicine resident, and associate pastor. Outside of coaching people on how to optimize their wellbeing, I’m regularly looking for ways to support ladies in living more meaningful lives. I enjoy leading devotional studies, facilitating classes and workshops on medical topics, and grabbing a good cup of tea with a girlfriend, all with the intention of helping women live completely as themselves!