A Smile Isn't Enough

In an earlier posting, I reflected on a speaker who addressed stereotypes and the ways in which we may and often do marginalize others whether intentionally or not. I ended it with the speaker asking us to smile at ten people.  This idea of smiling to extend compassion also came up when we at PC asked all the first year students to respond to Lee Mun Wah who spoke during their orientation. He directly addressed the reality and pain of racism that exists in our society and among us. For many students it was the first time they heard that racism was still real and that diversity mattered. It was a nice surprise to read that they received his message with an open attitude.

Yet what most students wrote as their next course of action was to smile more at students they don't know. And as much as that's needed and appreciated, I'm recognizing that a smile is not enough to address the systemic -isms that are imbedded in our institutions in the United States.

Frankly we have a long and painful past when it comes to race and truth be told the Civil Rights Movement was only about 50 years ago in a nation that has created and used race to systemically oppress others. Unfortunately we live with a legacy that we passed along to us and we are still dealing with the consequences of choices made generations ago.

So what does that mean for me and for you?

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