Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire

On this week’s episode I acknowledge the intense pain Black Americans have endured for centuries, as we continue to honor Black History Month. And although tremendous progress has been made, the institutional racism in this country is pervasive, persistent and very painful. I feel it is my responsibility and the responsibility of White Americans to not only admit to this troubling history of pain, but to look this pain in the eye. So many of the deaths of young Black people that have occurred in the past few months, are so layered in trauma. The vicious combination of tragic, shocking violence is infused in these racially horrific deaths. I am thinking of the pain and suffering for those beaten, tortured and murdered as well as the unspeakable suffering for their surviving loved ones. And I say to myself: Don’t look away. Don’t look down. Don’t pretend not to see hurt. Look people in the eye. Even when their pain is overwhelming. May we have the courage to look pain in the eye, to show up with compassion