DEAR HARRIETTE: The Black Lives Matter movement is the biggest topic today, except for COVID-19. The world is changing, and the truth about people around us has come to light.
My white friends support “all life matters”, and I am confused about what I should think and feel. Why do they not see why BLM is important? Have I been blind this time to her true feelings about Black people? Have they been blind to their own feelings about Black people? How can I continue these friendships? Shall I?
I’m in shock because there’s a lot of love here, but I feel for the first time that we’re just too different after all. I want to bridge our races like I thought we did all this time. Was it all false?
Lost in this world
DEAR LOST IN THE WORLD: Honest, robust conversations begin among people who do not normally talk about race. Research reveals for many people nuances about the racial justice struggle that will hopefully open more eyes.
The fight between Black Lives Matter and all life matters is based on perspective. The reason Black Lives Matter became a thing is that Black Life does not seem like it to many people. Black men and women were abused on a regular basis without consequences – whether the killer was a citizen or a police officer.
The idea of ’all life’ appeared as a reaction to BLM, suggesting that white life, blue (police) life and all people are important. That was never the problem. These other entities were not and will not be attacked in the way that Black people are.
Educating your friends about why maintaining the value of life is necessary can help them better understand it. The intent of Black Lives Matter is not that white lives – or any other life – are inferior. Instead, it is to be pointed out that Black lives should not be disposable.
Do not give up on your white friends. Start chatting, reading together, sharing information and continuing the dialogue. Education is the key to liberation.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a very great job that has good benefits. The job itself is not what I think I would want to do forever, but I’m comfortable. Recently, there have been proposals to reduce our benefits. Some of those proposals were passed, resulting in the loss of those benefits. Now I worry that I could potentially lose more than I am willing to live with.
At this point in my life I am at a crossroads. Should I continue on my current path because I’m comfortable, or should I start looking for a career that maintains my true interests, especially since the benefits here are not guaranteed anyway?
Crossroads Millennial
DEAR CROSSROADS MILLENNIAL: If you are not working on what you want your career to be, then make a plan to get to the job of your dreams. That does not mean you have to leave your job now. Do your research instead.
Figure out what really interests you. Then look for stable companies that offer those opportunities. If it is possible to see what benefits these companies offer, then find that too. In some cases, people supplement their insurance and other benefits themselves to pursue their dreams. There are many ways to reach your goal.
Harriette Cole is a lifestyle stylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to [email protected] or c / o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
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