Abstract
Dear Colleagues,
A friend overheard me say that I was attending a conference in New Orleans. She jumped at the chance to tell me that, if I was going to Louisiana, I should definitely read Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Hochschild. It is a page turner, and turn the pages I did. My thoughts ranged from “how could they possibly believe this or that in the midst of the reality that surrounded them.” This response was, as you and I both know, a reflection of My perspective, which stems from My beliefs and values. The author’s goal was to “get over the empathy wall”—to truly understand their beliefs, values, and practices. I wanted to go with her on that pathway. I am embarrassed to say that it took two thirds of the book before I got over the “empathy wall.” It was a paradigm shift for me, providing an awareness that opened my eyes, and heart, to another’s beliefs/values that seemed the antithesis of my own. In our profession we grapple with this dichotomy. But the question is, “Do we truly get over that ‘empathy wall.’” Perhaps, putting ourselves in those uncomfortable and awkward moments allows empathy to emerge.
My next “empathy wall” challenge was just around the corner. My son, Malcolm, sent me a podcast of an interview with Isabel Wilkerson. She wrote The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration (2010). She recounts the narrative of Southern Blacks leaving the Jim Crow South for the North from the early 1900s through 1970—hoping for a better life. My husband’s family were one of those who, in 1939, left Mississippi and headed North to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their house became the sanctuary for relatives who migrated North over the next 20 years. This book is a gripping narrative that challenges us to fully grasp our country’s history of racism, discrimination, and disregard.
And last, the National Geographic publication titled Black and White (April 2018). You may have seen the cover, twin sisters, one looking white and the other black. It catches your attention. Susan Goldberg, Editor in Chief, highlights the purpose of the publication in her editorial, titled “To Rise Above Racism of the Past, We Must Acknowledge It.” She goes on to say, “Let’s examine why we continue to segregate along racial lines and how we can build inclusive communities. Let’s confront today’s shameful use of racism as a political strategy and prove we are better than this.”
I could not have said it better. The time is now. Together, we can make a difference.
Join us in San Antonio, October 17 to 20, for the challenge of change.
Namasté