Adrianne C. Smith

It’s Juneteenth. This is the White family.

As a result of the most recent race related atrocities that happened in the US, it seems like there has been a cosmic shift and sense of urgency around personal and corporate accountability. This moment has turned into a movement that has many Black people on high alert. High alert because we have been in a state of constant fear, a constant state of anxiety, a constant state of head on a swivel and a constant state of exhaustion because in the words of Miss Sophia from The Color Purple, “All My Life I Had to Fight”...for at least the last...400 years, give or take! 🤷🏾♀️ Yet we are showing up to the battlefield and table of reconciliation with dusted off playbooks (the basic asks have not changed in let me think...400 years) to once again negotiate for equal protection and policies under the law, access and opportunities that allow the choice to earn a living wage or better, access to proper healthcare, schools, neighborhoods with needed resources and appreciating property values. You know the list. We are at the table for sustainable change.

It’s Juneteenth. This is the White family.

A few years ago P&G released an award winning commercial titled, “<a href="https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrDQ2qb5.xeQREASDk0nIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBncGdyMzQ0BHNlYwNzZWFyY2gEdnRpZAM-;_ylc=X1MDMTM1MTE5NTcwMARfcgMyBGFjdG4DY2xrBGNzcmNwdmlkA09jdWJZVEV3TGpGR3NWS05YWl85aEFEN05qY3VNZ0FBQUFCaEV0MW0EZnIDeWhzLWRvbWFpbmRldi1zdF9lbWVhBGZyMgNzYS1ncARncHJpZANueHlnUUxiMFNoeU9fenVoNm5sbVZBBG5fcnNsdAM2MARuX3N1Z2cDMgRvcmlnaW4DdmlkZW8uc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMgRwcXN0cgNUaGUlMjBUYWxrJTIwUCUyNkcEcHFzdHJsAzEyBHFzdHJsAzMxBHF1ZXJ5A3RoZSUyMHRhbGslMjBwJTI2ZyUyMGNvbW1lcmNpYWwEdF9zdG1wAzE1OTI1ODQxMDI-?p=the+talk+p%26g+commercial&ei=UTF-8&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av%2Cm%3Asa&fr=yhs-domaindev-st_emea&hsimp=yhs-st_emea&hspart=domaindev&type=dhm_A0IHQ_set_bsf_H__alt__ddc_srch_searchpulse_net#id=8&vid=abb126835939169f34e7aa930662b16c&action=view" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Talk ”. The Talk’s message centered around the conversations ALL Black families have with their children about how to physically, emotionally and mentally survive breathing while being Black. I recently marched in the Until Freedom March for justice in NYC and I came across, The White family. Rex, Hannah, Hadley (5), Heather(3) and Jake(7) were standing on the sidelines in solidarity with protesters hand made signs in tow. Read the signs. Hadley’s sign says “Be Kind, We must do better. I will do better”. I can’t decipher Heather’s scribble but her red heart spoke volumes. Jake’s sign looks like a powerful manifesto demanding Justice for George Floyd and I truly believe he’s committed to the cause. I took their picture because it reminded me of “The Talk”. Many of my white friends have asked me what they can do during this time to effect sustainable change. I encourage them all to be like the White family. I’d like to think that the White parents have had “The Talk” with their children. The talk that encourages them not to grow up to be racist and hateful human beings. The talk that removes the notion that their historical advantages in life does not translate to privilege. We are all born equal. Rex and Hannah made an intentional choice to have “The Talk” with their children then followed up with action to fortify their conversation. Very much like one of my new allies/friends whose white activist parents took him to a KKK rally in Alabama to reinforce the message “Don’t grow up to be like this”. He didn’t.

It’s Juneteenth. This is the White Family.

You are not born a racist. Racism is taught and fortified with systemic micro aggressions all around us. If you truly want to help create sustainable change, educate yourself, your family and friends. Honor the past by acknowledging what has happened and swiftly move with laser sharp intent and forward focused movement to create change. Start at home.

In the words of Hannah: “We Must Do Better!”

(All names have been changed for to allow you to insert yourself into the narrative)

Adrianne C. Smith

New York City Metropolitan Area 9K followers 500+ connections

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