Friday Thoughts on Portland Liberalism

​Confession. Some days I wonder how my life would be if I didn't do diversity and equity work. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, it's my calling. I was raised to live in a sort of bliss that racism, prejudice, and microaggressions were the result of sin and the human condition, therefore, none of my current experiences felt like a barrier to my wellness and happiness as a person of color, until recent years. Although I can return to my younger years of ignorance is bliss, shut out negative experiences from my mind, and live as if my race is not a barrier, I've noticed there is a form of liberalism within the City of Portland that is equally as harmful to the minority psyche like some conservatism ideologies. This liberalism is a well-meaning pity, desire, hope, supported with no actual action from those who carry it. So I just feel this needs to be said, and I mean it with love, whether you deplore Trump, love Trump, hate segregation, love segregation, hate/love discrimination, hate/love prejudice, and consider yourself an ally to persons of color in your life, community, and world, please listen carefully. If you do not have a person in your life that is a different skin color than you, or you choose not to show up to spaces that will enable you to grow in knowledge and allyship, you will not be able to understand or comprehend the plight of the underrepresented minority. So please, after you cast your vote, whatever side you land on within the political spectrum, I encourage you to do the work as an active participant in this country, get out of your comfort zone and the systems that make you feel comfortable and get to know someone different from yourself. Educate yourself. I don't want your vote; I want your vote in action.