What happens when we live a lie for generations? What does it do to us when we pretend we are better than others? What happens to us when we build structures and institutions to keep the lie in place?
Racism is damaging all of us—White, Black, Brown and everyone in between. When we buy into a lie, we become separated from ourselves. We become strangers to our souls. We begin to believe that this world is all there is and this is all that matters. We come to occupy a smaller and smaller definition of ourselves. But our souls are expansive. Would that not put a strain on the psyche? Would we not want to escape this tiny prison we’ve built for ourselves? Is this not what alcoholism and addiction are all about—escape from the tiny prison?
Our souls long to soar, but we chain them to this earthly life by believing that acquisition is all that matters, that what’s important is getting ahead. Why would we do that to ourselves?
We can choose to behave this way, but that’s not who we are. And our souls know this. Deep down inside, we know this.
When we are moved by an act of kindness, we know this. When we see someone go out of their way to help a stranger, we know this. When someone stands up for another whose voice has been squelched, we know this.
We know this because we are this. We are this kindness, this generosity, this justice. This is the expansiveness that calls our souls forward.
This is who we truly are.