I Am Not a Coward

I am a Black Christian woman, who worships in the progressive Baptist tradition. I have multiple academic degrees and have enjoyed a meaningful professional career working as a teacher, lawyer, non-profit leader in faith and secular organizations. My life experiences have caused me to review my life story over and over again to answer the question "why am I doing this?

When I was invited to serve on the board of Ending-Racism.org, my basic answer to the "why" question was because a friend asked me to join. Former US Attorney General Eric Holder once said, that despite advances, the United States remains "a nation of cowards" on issues involving race. I was convicted by his statement.

My context as a Black woman makes it impossible to ignore the impact of race on our lives. When I look at my life through the lens of my blackness and the lens of my faith, I refuse to let my silence contribute to the false notion that race does not matter. I believe we are all created by God and that the words "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a great guide toward ending racism.

Yes, race is a social construct and even as such, the impact is destructive. Race has mattered in the life of my family from where we lived, worshipped, studied, worked, shopped... The stories were often painful, so we were taught to be silent, not to make waves, and to trust God to help us survive.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's words are true: our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. I choose to become a part of End Racism USA because race matters in this nation. My answer to the "why" question is because I have been called to this work. I have a heart for people. I am a change agent. I am willing to listen and learn with others. I am guided by my belief that there are people across this nation who will benefit from listening, learning and collaborating in an ongoing movement – working together to end racism.

I am not a coward.