​Uncomfortable doesn't begin to describe how I feel about difficult conversations. I like to think things through. I like to have a script. I like to have a plan for how I will respond to anything that comes my way. And for so much of my life I do have the ability to make such plans. That's my white privilege.

I've always had time, resources, and people on my side. I've been given breaks, second chances, third chances, and the benefit of the doubt. Very few things in my life have come down to a split second decision or only having a split second to defend myself. That's my white privilege.

I've comfortably sat and read many articles these last few days and I've really thought about what my role is in the movement for justice. That's my white privilege.

So this week, I hope you will join me in Just 3 Things:

1. Find an article that makes you uncomfortable to read, figure out why it brings up insecurities, and write down a resolution to address those issues. Really write it down and really resolve to improve.
2. Donate $1 or more to an organization that is actively working to help people who do not benefit from white privilege.
3. Purchase a book that addresses racial injustice, written by a person who does not benefit from white privilege for your kids and/or a kid you know.

I will share what I come up with and hope you will do the same. Accountability is what we need to show up to every day with the intent to respect every person we meet and this is where I am ready to start. 

Here's What I Came Up With

When I taught a journalism class at DePaul University, two of my students wrote in a media critique assignment that we should use “African American” because the term “Black” has negative connotations — despite the fact I, their instructor, had referred to myself as “Black” multiple times in class. When it came to writing about police brutality, a couple of students at Salem State used “people of color” (two students actually used the term “colored people”) even though local and national discussions on police brutality almost always involve Black victims.

It seems like every week we see a new video of people calling the police on Black people for merely existing in public. Every few weeks, there’s another story of a police officer shooting an unarmed Black person because they “feared for their life.” Yes, other groups face systemic oppression, but while using “POC” in these contexts isn’t inaccurate, it feels misleading. A “People of Color Lives Matter” movement would be useful, but we can understand why “Black Lives Matter” has a more specific resonance. ​

Black-Owned Businesses to Support

Resources (parent-focused):

Instagram: Beautiful things to look at created by Black Americans