“African-American descendant of Nathan Bedford Forrest”
David Forde, Kansas City, MO. Reconciled this after a long while.
white, waking up, working on change
I have lived a non-diverse life. A few years ago I attended a presentation by Debbie Irving about Growing up White. I took her 30...
Today, tomorrow. Love. learn. Listen. Act.
What I know today is not as much as I wish, yet more than I did yesterday. It’s driving me to be vulnerable, to listen,...
WHAT I DON’T BUT SHOULD KNOW
I THINK I HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING ABOUT RACIAL INEQUITY FROM BEING EXPOSED TO READING AND RACE EQUITY AND DIVERSITY TRAININGS, AND BETTER YET, FROM TALKING...
Different, Separate, race, equality, love, perspective
I was attending a company Christmas party with my father as a child. A white friend of mine whose father also worked for the company...
Aren’t there any black women firefighters?
I can remember Smitty asking me that question like it was yesterday – and that was more than 32 years ago. I was assisting with...
Watch, wait, think, act, repeat, repeat.
I moved to Kansas City in 1980 from my hometown of Detroit, Michigan. For the first few weeks, I learned to navigate the streets, applied...
Almost robbed of life changing relationships
Five years ago I could not have imagined how many deep and meaningful relationships I would ultimately have with Black people. That sentence alone makes me...
White privilege meant doors didn’t close.
Maureen Rank, Kansas City, MO I’m a white woman who grew up poor; the idea of “white privilege” didn’t apply to me – or so...
I look like those I despise
Stewart Curtrright, Overland Park, KS Prior to Jan 6th 2021, I was aware that occasionally my presence and appearance caused some people of color to...
Suspend judgment, extend grace, listen abundantly
Jamila, United we stand, divided we fall. We are better together. There is so much healing to do and we must do it together. It...
Your bar is down the street.
Ronald Zeigler, North Brunswick, NJ. I was stationed at Parris Island going to Personnel school. I was from New York and with my three New...
Racism is the ultimate, destructive hypocrisy.
When my mother was a child growing up in the 1920’s and 30’s in Odessa, Mo., African American children were provided a one-room wooden school...
They assume my wife’s the nanny.
Sean Robertson, Kensington, MD. People impressed with how my wife handles our children have stopped her on the street to ask what agency she was...
Knowing Where and Who You are
Tyrone Aiken, Kansas City, MO I am in Kansas City, from New York thinking about my parents great migration from South Carolina. Knowing where I...
