When
we
fix racism we’ll save or recoup
the $16 trillion estimated to be
lost in just this century, not
accounting for the $2.4 billion
related to health disparities.
That money could go to healthcare
for all or universal minimum wage
or college.
When we
fix racism there’ll be no more accelerated
(police) violence against people of color,
our dog whistle fears will be eliminated,
and we can finally start talking
substantively about gun control.
When we
fix racism there will no longer be a need
to elect a malignant narcissist to comfort
the privileged who he frames as victims,
which reinforces false and unnecessary
polarization.
When we
fix racism our international policies will
have more meaning because other peoples
would not see America as a hypocritical
nation critical of others but unwilling to
repair its own deep flaws.
When we
fix racism law enforcement will not need
or use “I feared for my life” as
justification for killing unarmed black
people.
When we
fix racism my biracial children will no
longer be asked “what are you” and asked
to choose between parents with whom
they’ll identify.
When we
fix racism those countless lives lost to
racist terror will not have been in vain.
When we
fix racism we will finally, at last, pay
true homage to our heroes like Martin
King, JFK, John Lewis… instead of merely
holding them in rhetorical high regard
with performative virtue signaling.
When we
fix racism Black Americans can finally
live in peace and white Americans can
begin to heal from guilt and both will
have reduced health risks and stress of
cognitive dissonance and the health
impacts of mutual fear.
When
we
fix racism, discussions
about
reparations
will have true and lasting meaning
and have more relevance.
When we
fix racism we will cease to mobilize
billions of dollars to support
Euro-derived countries disproportionate to
darker global neighbors.
When we
fix racism we can begin to address other
health inequities based on gender,
language, ability, age, origin, religion
and other false barriers.
Because
until we fix racism, all Americans will
have an unrecognized traumatic debt owed
not only to our forebears, but also to our
progeny.
Until we
fix racism only some lives matter.
This
commentary
is also posted on Peace
Voice
