If we had to use names instead of pronouns how would conversations changes? This thought has been running through my mind since I heard the news of George Floyd’s murder. I did what I know best and wrote out what I was feeling and thinking. This is not complete in that I am listening and learning more each day, but I commit to being part of the conversation AND solution.

Right now I am listening and allowing other voices to be amplified while mine becomes more quiet. This will not affect my commitment to show up for myself but will pivot how I am doing so. It’s important that when we have a voice we use it while also being aware of who else is speaking and listening to them as well.

For everyone out there who is confused on what to do or is feeling the deep sadness and anger of this event, please know now is the time that you can dig deep on what you are feeling and really look into how you can be part of the solution. This month, I am reading books about racial relationships and looking into local organizations that are part of the solution and finding out how I can do more because that is what I feel called to do. Your calling may be different. Know your calling and act upon it because THAT is what you will be held accountable for.

~Shell

When Me Becomes We

I heard the news this week and went numb,

not knowing how to proceed

because who am I to help in this fight

when I am not part of the problem?

I’m not racist so how do I stop racist systems and society?

My heart grieved,

my stomach tightened,

I vomited from the reality of someone hurting another like this.

As HE lie there dying, I sat here crying,

breath leaving my chest

only to come back

and make me wonder

how I can do something to stop this civil unrest.

YOU saw my silence

and assumed that I agreed with what happened,

becoming angry with me because

I

“never speak up when it matters”.

I

didn’t understand

since my silence was me processing what exactly “White privilege” means for me

and how

I can be part of the solution

so it’s no longer true that my skin buys me more rights to life than you.

HE said that silence is complicity

and my white silence = violence.

SHE yelled and screamed,

burning cities down while crying out about

WE can’t be silent anymore and

SHE can’t breathe until WE uncover the truth.

IT made me uncomfortable

because I still don’t understand how this helps.

How can I help?
Why are we here and what do we do?
When did things get this bad and where do we go to make a change?
Does my voice matter when I don’t know the terms or how to speak intelligently?

I don’t know HIM enough to defend myself

and I can’t tell HER what to do,

but I want to work with THEM

because it will take all of US coming together

to develop the solution.

This answer does not lie in the finger pointing

unless I look at the three pointing back at me

because while a man lie dying

while someone was kneeling

no one thought to push him off.

No one thought to intervene with force

while a man lie breathless for nearly 3 minutes

while another human knelt on his neck.

And now THEY are claiming

HE was already sick

and died from heart-related complications

as if no one will ask questions and

WE will all just let this be.

While Derek knelt,

Floyd felt a knee to his neck

and THEY made history.

I realized in that moment it won’t be until THEY becomes ME

and I understand

that my metaphorical knee has choked many people in my lifetime

that I will understand how to help.

It’s time for my physical knee to kneel down and pray for answers,

revival,

deliverance,

and then rise up and take action

so that ME becomes WE

and healing can begin

through MY action of getting involved

with being part of the solution

and not assuming it doesn’t affect me

because I am not racist.

I can’t apologize for THEM

and MY tears don’t mean anything to YOU

because HE can’t cry anymore

but SHE will as HER son is lowered to the ground.

Then THEY becomes US

and ME becomes WE

and perhaps we’ll get to a place where

we can all truly and equally exist.

©2020 Shell Vera