I am part of a new community that is giving me space to grow. I am learning what it means to have white privilege in America and how life is more difficult without it. I am growing my empathy and understanding for people whose experience is different from mine.
Many boomers are faced with the reality that we can no longe ignore the racism in our society. Some double down on long held prejudices and harmful ideology. Some insist they are not racist while upholding systems in place that limit the potential of our neighbors of color. Some, like me will be thankful for the space to learn and grow.
I thought it was good that I never considered race when meeting or interacting with people. But it was only good for me, because being ignorant about race and color is accepting the systemic racism that is part of our American culture. In the aftermath of the George Floyd murder, and the media coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement, I am becoming more aware of the racism surrounding me and more sensitive to how that affects people of color.
I am fortunate to be taking a class learning about digital media offered by Dr. Stacey Patton. My daugher who follows Dr. Patton on twitter shared a link with me where I signed up for the class. 300 students were enrolled and we began a Zoom journey together to learn how to manage a blog on Word Press. It was timely for me because just weeks before I started a blog on Word Press. I didn’t have any experience and didn’t know how to proceed. I could only add ‘New post’. Now I have learned to embed videos and sound tracks. Next week I will be creating a timeline of my own life.
While I appreciate learning about the technology that will help me with my blog, I feel that the greater value is in the community and fellowship of the other creatives in class. It is a new experience for me to be in the minority where I am one of a handful of white students amid a majority of people of color. I am immersed in a class of people who are the same as me and different from me. We are the same because we share a common interest. We are different because we experience racism in different ways.
The assignments we are given are creative and meant to teach us about technology. The topics are personal and we choose them ourselves. This is where I feel uncomfortable, privileged and frivolous. My life experiences feel normal to me; entertaining and fun. When I look at many of the other submissions, I see something more. I see people being vulnerable about themselves, their lives and experiences. I see pain and anger and activism and advocacy. I see real people dealing with real trauma that is happening in the same spaces where I live but that I don’t experience. And maybe that is why I scratch the surface in my writing, so I don’t have to deal with the hard problem of racism.
I want my classmates to know that while I do not experience the same difficulties, I have experienced some difficulties in my life, and that creates a bridge of empathy. I want to share with you the things that make us the same so we can laugh and enjoy each other. I want to learn about the things that make us different so I can understand what you need and how I can help you get that.
My heart is full of love, even when my actions have fallen short. My mind is full of ideas, even when I have not said them out loud. I am starting where I am, with what I have, doing what I can. I am a Digital Media Bawse in progress. Bear with me, I’m growing.
Yes, I love it. Pull the weeds, fertilize the flowers!
Beautifully put.
I’ve been surfing online more than 2 hours today, yet I never
found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough
for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will
be a lot more useful than ever before. I have been browsing online greater than three hours these days,
yet I never discovered any interesting article like yours.
It’s lovely price sufficient for me. In my opinion, if
all web owners and bloggers made just right content material as you
probably did, the internet will be much more useful than ever
before. Its such as you learn my mind! You seem to
know a lot approximately this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you can do with a few % to power the message
home a bit, however instead of that, that is magnificent blog.
A fantastic read. I will definitely be back. http://marketing.com
My blog post … Jimmy
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This paragraph posted at this website is actually pleasant.
my homepage: malibu beach house sober living
Amazing issues here. I’m very satisfied to look
your article. Thanks a lot and I am taking a
look ahead to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
Excfellent post however I was wanting to know if
yyou could write a litte more on this topic?
I’d be very grateful if you culd elaborate a
little bit further. Cheers!
My brother suggested I would possibly like this website.
He used to be entirely right. This submit actually made my day.
You cann’t consider just how a lot time I had spent for
this information! Thanks!
Have you ever thought about adding a little bitt more
than just your articles? I mean, what you say is
fundamental and everything. Neverttheless think about if yyou added some great
pictures or videoo clips to give your posts more,
“pop”! Your cobtent iss excellent buut with images aand video clips, this website could definitely be one of the greatest iin its niche.
Amazing blog!
I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and amusing, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head.
The issue is something that not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about.
I am very happy I found this in my search for something relating to this.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed
browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you
write again soon!
Feel free to visit my site; w88
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this website.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough
to get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual
appearance. I must say you have done a great job
with this. Additionally, the blog loads extremely fast for me on Firefox.
Exceptional Blog!
I constantly emailed this weblog post page to all my contacts, since if like to
read it afterward my friends will too.
Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!
This is a great tip particularly to those fresh
to the blogosphere. Brief but very precise info… Thank you for sharing
this one. A must read article!
Genuinely no matter if someone doesn’t understand after that its
up to other visitors that they will help, so here it takes place.
It’s awesome to pay a quick visit this site and reading the views of all mates
regarding this paragraph, while I am also keen of getting experience.
Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is excellent, as well as the content!
Amazing things here. I am very glad to peer your post. Thanks a lot and I’m looking ahead to
contact you. Will you please drop me a mail?
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular
post! It is the little changes that make the most significant changes.
Many thanks for sharing!
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this superb
blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google
account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group.
Chat soon!
Excellent website. Lots of helpful info here.
I’m sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And of course, thanks in your sweat!
Excellent web site. Lots of helpful info here. I’m sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thank you in your sweat!
If some one wishes expert view on the topic of blogging and site-building
afterward i propose him/her to visit this webpage, Keep up the good job.
Thanks designed for sharing such a good thought, post is pleasant, thats why i have read it completely
Hello every one, here every person is sharing such know-how, thus it’s pleasant to read
this webpage, and I used to pay a quick visit this weblog all the time.
Hi there, constantly i used to check website posts here in the early
hours in the morning, since i love to gain knowledge of more
and more.
What’s up, of course this post is actually good and I have learned lot of things from it concerning blogging.
thanks.
Thanks designed for sharing such a good thought, post is nice,
thats why i have read it fully