My Pledge to Help Heal America’s Racial Wounds
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Preamble: In light of recent events, I am pained by the huge injustices people of color in our nation are subjected to, generation after generation. So, as a white American, I am now ready to face – with honesty and self-compassion – my discomfort and fears. I want to become far more involved in racial justice efforts. By signing this Pledge, I affirm the points in the Full Pledge below about both U.S. history and “whiteness” in America today, and I commit myself to the actions listed. I know that this work will be needed for many years to come.
Who We Are:
Several friends in Northern New Mexico helped create the Anti-racism Pledge featured on this website. Most of us live in Los Alamos, a majority-white community surrounded by several Native Pueblos and a sizable Latinx population. As whites, we agreed in July of 2020 that a new, potent tool was needed to help many other white Americans get past their counterproductive feelings re: race, to give them some clarity about the past and current racial landscape, and to encourage them to engage in working against racism. From those goals, this Pledge arose.
Why A Pledge?
This document is meant to be:
- educational about our whitewashed history
- helpful to people unsure about terms like “white privilege “ and “white supremacy”
- clarifying about straightforward action steps people can take while not being driven by white guilt
- motivating for the long haul – as are the commitments in any pledge that one says or signs.
For this pledge to have its greatest effect on your future attitudes and behaviors, it is recommended that you print and physically sign it. Doing that helps to lock your brain into continuing these action steps next year, and the next. Maybe you’ll also want to keep this printed document where you’ll see it from time to time. Visual cues are good aids in remaining focused!
For every person who signs this Pledge as a commitment to themselves, and takes these steps to help dismantle racism in the US, there may well be multiple positive ripple effects in their community. What if thousands of us take this pledge? We can become a worthy stream flowing into America’s present river of determination to achieve real racial justice. We can add the many helpful voices of those who have been unsure and on-edge for too long. And we can set examples for other white Americans needing just a clear map and some inspiration.
Being determined, while also maintaining our self-respect. Being inspired and inspiring. Holding ourselves accountable to get busy in a critical time in the nation, in very doable steps. This Pledge is about all of these. Thank you for checking it out, and seriously considering joining this groundswell. We hope you’ll sign, and spread the word!