Colorful Conversations

I recently went to visit the site of the George Floyd tragedy and memorial.  I have had mixed feelings about going because I have been struggling to understand what I feel, how to respond, what should I do.  I was moved as I walked around looking at the artwork, flowers, signs, and the names written on the blacktop of Black Americans who have died in clashes with the police over recent years.  One piece of art struck me hardest.  It is a picture of raised fists of all colors and the words “Unity in Community” at the bottom.  My heart said “yes”, then my mind reflected on how far we are from that reality in this country.

How do we get to unity?  How do we even move in that direction in a sustainable way?  I lack the experience and expertise to map out a strategy or a path that can point the way.  I get overwhelmed by the complexity of racism that is woven into our history, consciousness, policies, and systems.  And yet, I also realize that becomes an easy excuse, a justification for doing nothing.  Isn’t doing something better than throwing up my hands in despair?   Should I not at least try, rather than allow time to let the issues recede once again into dimness in my personal and collective awareness?

What I do know is that unity may happen spontaneously for brief moments, but it will not be sustained without intention and work.  Community comes from the experience of knowing people as real human beings.  This requires opportunities to interact, spend time together, and have meaningful conversations and connections.  This can only happen at the local level; in our schools, churches, workplaces, neighborhoods, and other places people gather.   For most of us, this is not the norm and is outside of our comfort zone.  But how else will we know one another?  Of course, it is more difficult to congregate during this time of COVID-19, yet we can find creative ways if we try.

Perhaps one way to think of this is having “colorful conversations”.  Yes, the pun is intended, not for humor, but to emphasize that we cannot know another person’s experience and perspective without listening to understand and being honest about our own point of view.  Perhaps there is a way for a white person to gain some understanding of a person of color.  It may be a way for a person of color to understand the thoughts and feelings of a white person.  And what about those in blue?  It may be very eye-opening to listen to the experiences of the officers who are out on the streets everyday doing their jobs.  What if those officers really listened to the perspectives of the people of color who fear them?

I recognize that just getting to know people of different colors, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences does not address the complex, systemic issues woven into our society.  However, it is somethings each one of us can participate in if we are willing.  Colorful conversations will not build community if we approach them out of guilt, pity, or a desire to punish anyone, including ourselves.  These may be very valid feelings and they need to be heard, but the intention must be to learn from each other and find new ways of being with one another.  This may disrupt our worldview and may ask us to change.  Maybe the time for more unity and community has arrived.  At least it may be a place to begin.