Session 5
If you could accumulate the time you’ve spent longing, wishing, hoping and praying for a better world, how many hours would it be? Probably a lot. I know as an African-American woman married to a white man and mom of multi-ethnic children, I contemplate a world where race does not interfere with the essence of our journey of becoming, creating, living and loving. I spend a lot of time thinking of and dreaming about a more beautiful world where all humans function in in the fullness of their power to eradicate the ‘isms’ that narrate some of us as less human and less worthy than others.
With that question asked, if you could accumulate the time you’ve spent practicing the change for which you long, wish, hope and pray, how many hours would it be? It takes roughly ten thousand hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field, Malcolm Gladwell concludes in his book, Outliers. Practice involves intentionality, becoming skilled and proficient, performing regularly. Do you practice creating the society for which you long? Or are you simply responding to the world that someone else created?
Brownicity: The Art & Beauty of Living & Loving Beyond Race is the space we created to not only dream about a more beautiful world that our hearts know is possible, but to practice producing that world. We are finding that practice achieves a lot more than mastery. Practice also boosts confidence and bolsters proficiency. Practice allows us to tremendously grow our capacity as visionaries and creators—to boldly change the world.
For example, when I hear an extended family member make a derogatory comment about someone who is Latino, I speak up—respectfully, of course—I take that moment to acknowledge the illness behind that comment. I let them know that its not ok. I practice. At first, practicing was uncomfortable and awkward—like learning any new skill—but after a lot of practice, I find it a lot easier and now I expect this of myself. Yes, it would be easier to let those who ‘don’t get it’ remain in the dark or ‘die off,’ as I’ve often heard. But I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to know the truth and be set free from the lie of race/sim.
As you move forward, ask yourself the following:
- Do I take the time to imagine the kind of society in which I’d love to live? What role would I play? How would I interact with others?
- Am I creating the society for which I long? Or am I simply responding to the world that someone else created?
Remember, practice makes a difference!
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