Like many, I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. My wish now, in the aftermath of the verdict, is that we as a country use this as an opportunity to build bridges, not barriers.
I fear tonight for my son’s friends who are Black or dark-skinned, who will grow up to look like Trayvon Martin in some people’s eyes. I fear for my own son, growing up in a country that still struggles to treat all people with equality and justice. What can we do, though, beyond simply urging the U.S. Justice Department to bring charges against Zimmerman (which may be necessary, but is far from sufficient)?
Earlier this year, I reviewed the book American Family: Things Racial, by partners Stacy Cusulos and Barbara Waugh, the White adoptive mothers of two Black children. Their story, while far from identical to that of Trayvon Martin’s family, also shows the deep current of racism that still pervades our society and affects our children. On their Web site, the authors offer some suggestions from Ken Homer of Collaborative Conversations for “opening up a conversation about racism with people in your life.” Homer says:
Racism’s power withers in the face of love, compassion and forgiveness. The best way to bring love, compassion and forgiveness forward is to listen to the stories of racism we each carry without needing to fix those stories or the people sharing them. There is great healing in deep listening.
Theirs is one story. Trayvon’s is another. Here’s another; and another; and there are many more. Are we listening? Are we teaching our children to do so?
Listening alone will not end racism, but it is a good place to start.
(When Trayvon was killed, Welcoming Schools posted some useful links to resources for talking about the tragedy with children. Parents and teachers may find them useful yet again. (Their link to Teaching for Change is outdated; the correct link is here.))
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