I wonder how America could be a racist country when we elected a black president, not once, but twice. I wonder, if America is riddled with “systemic racism,” why is it that so many people of color from around the world desire to come here? I wonder about the many blacks who are surgeons, scholars, business owners, military officers, attorney generals, and lawmakers. And now I wonder why only white people can undo a so-called “structural/systemic racism,” which sends a message to young people of color that they are powerless.
Ian Rowe, a black scholar educated at Cornell with a graduate degree from Harvard, social entrepreneur, and civic leader, opines, “The narrative that white people “hold the power” conveys a wrongheaded notion of white superiority and creates an illusion of black dependency on white largess. This false assignment of responsibility, while coming from an authentic desire to produce change, can create a new kind of mental enslavement.”
Eliminating racism and judging individuals on the content of their character is something for which we all need to strive. I am sure some would seek to keep people of color down and that there is racism and bigotry among us, but I do not believe it is “systemic.” Indeed, that is what most voters thought when they cast their ballot on November 5.
On the dawn of a new administration, we must labor to get ahead and live a better, more abundant life based on our merit, preparation, and grit. We must behave our way to success. We must be kind to others and support those who are struggling. We must seek to improve the lives of others and ourselves by improving and building up our communities, not tearing them down. We must learn skills related to impulse control, time management, study habits, decision-making, creative problem-solving, conflict resolution, anger management, life planning, and sharing our feelings. We must avoid high-risk behaviors that get us off track, making achieving a healthy and prosperous future harder. We all need to take responsibility for our direction and not blame others. We need to know what we need to learn and hone our skills. We need to find support from one another and develop healthy relationships. Research tells us that we are hardwired to connect.
We need skills to overcome obstacles. Obstacles like poverty, unhealthy modeling, child abuse or neglect, and lack of education and skills. We need pro-social connections. Feeling isolated, lonely, alone, and overwhelmed is real. Let us work together to tackle these obstacles. An essential trait for behaving our way to success is gratitude, not entitlement. No one owes us anything. Many are willing to help. When someone assists you, be grateful, then pay it forward to someone else. Know that only YOU have the power to live your best life. Do not wait for others. It is up to us to meet our destiny, create our legacy, and serve our country. There are pathways to success for all people. To behave our way to success through the Success Sequence: to get an education, get a job, and marry before having children is a research-based pathway to success. We must take responsibility and hold others accountable. Indeed, it is morning in America. joneen@narme.org