busyWe must ask ourselves one key and critical question: what have we done to make Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community come true? As a nation, indeed a global community, we must ask ourselves if we are any closer to a just and equitable society a reality since that tragic day in Memphis nearly 44 years ago. And we must confront the issue of whether we have really made strides towards justice , peace, and inclusion? And long after this celebration has ended…long after the marches and the singing…long after the last benediction… and long after the last “Amen”… we must ask ourselves, “Where do we go from here?”
-- Dr. Brian Clardy
I like the idea of equality and dignity as social virtues, and a culture where skin culture is just a feature like hair color or eye color, not a reason to murder people. I think racism is just blindingly stupid. Some things I've done to move the world dreamwards include:
* reading things written by people of many different ethnic background. Frex, here are some of my favorite poets.
* writing about characters of many different ethnic backgrounds. On the Serial Poetry page, the Origami Mage is Asian, Fiorenza is Italian, Maryam Smith is African-British, etc. My fiction is similarly mixed but not as much of it is online.
* crowdfunding character diversity in other people's projects. I've asked for black characters, a Lakota vampire, all kinds of stuff.
* boosting the signal for things that support racial tolerance.
* teaching prison inmates about black and Hispanic writers, getting them hooked on literature by people like them.
* playing "Poke a Bigot in the Eye." I've done it for racism as well as sexism, etc.
* voting for people of color in politics, if they seem minimally objectionable (I rarely find politicians I admire).
* agitating for human dignity and equality, a major flavor of activism that I practice.
* friending people around the world in online networks, so I can follow what's happening in far-flung places and see what issues are important in people's lives.
* making my online venues as safe as I can manage for discussion of controversial issues.
* hanging out in mixed groups when I have the chance in person. I don't get out much, but my latter high school was extremely diverse and I adored that.
What are some things you do to encourage racial tolerance?
January 18 2012, 18:43:05 UTC 9 years ago