Okay, So here's my problem with talking about racism...

Hold on, trust me.  I know that EVERYBODY’S “talking.”  However, few are in conversation.

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Fact:  You’d have to be living under a rock to miss the discourse going on in our nation these days over racism.  It’s a part of the discourse in everything from our local communities to our presidential election.  It’s an undeniable topic, and also (unfortunately) a very divisive one. 
 
Still, the plight of racism is far from a new thing.  In fact, the impact of racism can be found in the intricacies of this nation’s birth and even beyond that.  Now, to bring up that fact, by some is deemed to be problem.  However, I find it to be a “major key” (in my Khaled voice) towards the solution.  You see, respecting the age of the issue is just as important as dealing with the issue. 
 
For example… (and please bear with me on this one)
 
Let’s say you spill a glass of milk on the carpet.  Now, we’d all agree that the spill is the problem; however, we’d have to also agree that the length of time from spill to clean-up will dramatically impacts HOW you clean it up.  In other words, you’d clean the carpet in a very simplified manner if the milk had been spilled for 1 minute.  However, you’d also clean the carpet in a far different manner if the milk had been spilled for 1 week.  Oh, and 1 year?  Well, you’re probably replacing the carpet all together.    
 
Thus the challenge with our national discussion.  You see, while the conversation is new, the impact is older than all of us.  In some instances, nationally we’re talking about racism as a glass spilled for 1 minute, when in fact the spill’s true origin date, is (in my opinion) far beyond our comprehension. 
 
So, how do we begin to chip away at such a massive block in our culture?  Well, first we need conversation. 
 
Hold on, trust me.  I know that EVERYBODY’S “talking.”  However, few are in conversation.  You see, conversation is a meeting of mutual minds with the express purpose of not only expressing ideas, but also understanding others.  You see, conversation is in all honesty the genesis of remedy.  Conversation is where we will begin to see racism’s impact, our individual contributions, how it’s perpetuated, and even how we can begin to effectively address it. 
 
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:13, “Let people finish speaking before you try to answer them. That way you will not embarrass yourself and look foolish.”(ERV)


Yes, I’m fully aware that everybody is talking about racism; however, if “talk is cheap” then LISTENING, well, that is a high-end luxury.   The goal is simple:  I know it’s tough; however, the mission requires for all to “understand, before we are understood.”
 
So, what did you think?  How important is conversation in this process?  What did I miss?  How are you struggling with listening?  How are you battling to understand?  Let me know in the comments below.  Subscribe to the blog and thanks for your support. 
 
​Imperfectly,
Kevin D. Jones, Sr.
(@kevindjonessr)