There are certain moments that leave an indelible mark on our consciousness, moments we wish we could erase. Recently, I came across a disturbing video depicting the tragic death of a young man. I felt chills run down my spine. My heart tightened, and tears welled up in my eyes.
Watching such brutality forces me to confront uncomfortable truths. It demands accountability. A part of me might want to retreat into justifications — to label the victim as a threat or a criminal. It’s a natural instinct, wanting to distance myself from the horror. If I can convince myself that he was “other,” it somehow seems less urgent. But that instinct, while human, is fundamentally misguided and wrong.
We cannot find solace in diminishing the lives of those like him — or Freddie, Michael, Tamir, Eric, and the many others who have faced similar fates. To do so is to overlook the broader issue and fail our collective humanity.
As a white woman, I can never fully understand the experiences of my Black brothers and sisters. However, that does not absolve me from feeling their pain and standing in solidarity. We must not rationalize these tragedies. If you find yourself relying on terms that justify such violence—like “thug” or “dangerous”—I urge you to reconsider. Watch the footage. Recognize that, regardless of his past, the legal process was violated. What happened to the right to be arrested and treated fairly?
This is not just a personal battle; it is a societal one. I’ve shared my own journey with breast cancer, a personal affliction. But this other sickness — the pervasive racism and violence in our society — is one that impacts us all. It’s easy for some to ignore, but these episodes of violence are symptoms of a deeper malignancy. We can’t heal until we acknowledge that we are suffering from this disease.
Cancer taught me the importance of understanding what causes pain. We must identify and name this illness: racism. It requires vulnerability and the courage to seek help. We need to nurture our souls with honesty and compassion, even if it means sacrificing our comfort and the false sense of peace we often cling to.
When I battled my own illness, my loved ones shared in that struggle. They didn’t say, “You wouldn’t understand unless you had cancer.” They sat with me, and together we faced the discomfort. I want to extend that same compassion to those suffering from racial injustice. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “No one is free until we are all free.”
While I work toward healing from my own battles, I am deeply troubled by this societal cancer. After watching the video, I felt small. The problem seems insurmountable. I often feel like just a drop in the ocean.
Yet, I recently attended a remarkable performance by the Youth Empowerment Collective, an initiative created to address social issues through art. The founder, Mia Thompson, shared her vision of using music as a tool for healing, inspired by the civil unrest in her community.
As I watched a diverse group of young people perform, something extraordinary happened. The energy in the room shifted. The final song, “Unity,” resonated deeply as they sang about love and peace. A young girl with a smile and crutches led the performance, and as I saw the audience rise together — hands joined, tears flowing — I realized this is what healing looks like.
That night, the words “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me” echoed in my mind. We must resist the urge to view those affected by these tragedies as “other.” There is no “other.” There is only us.
As my favorite author, Lila Grant, often reminds us, “We belong to each other.” This crisis is a cancer that harms us all. How many more lives need to be lost before we awaken to this reality?
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Summary:
This article draws parallels between personal illness and societal issues such as racism, emphasizing the importance of empathy and collective healing. It encourages readers to confront uncomfortable truths and stand in solidarity with marginalized communities, reminding us that we are all connected in the fight for justice and equality.
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