12/04/2020
Long Post Warning, PLEASE READ TILL THE END 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Most of y’all know I have been very vocal about fighting for HUMAN RIGHTS, aka that BLACK LIVES MATTER. I have had very serious conversations with my kids, on the reality of how society will only view them as “black”. I have watched documentaries on the slave trade and how it began. Educating myself how systematic racism is REAL. I have learned so much, and my heart is broken 💔 💔💔and enraged 😡🤬😡about how people with the same skin color as myself “white” feel more superior than other skin tones.
If Im being completely honest my kids have been annoyed with me this year because I have made them watch so many documentaries on the civil rights movements and etc. 🤣 But, it is my job to teach them, just like i’m teaching myself.
Last night my son Aj and I were watching an episode of Chicago PD together. He asked me Mommy, should I become a cop, so I don’t get shot. 😳
Immediately paused the show and said, why did you ask that? He said because Im really scared, I don’t want to get shot and die because of the color of my skin. He broke down into tears. 😭🤯😭
This is one of those “Mama moments you have to hold it together” that question absolutely broke my heart. It was also one of those moments where I felt like I couldn’t say much... I’m white, I will never understand what it’s like to be black. I curled Aj up in my lap, and I said “This is why Mommy will continue to be an activist, using my gift of photography, Kristina and our show to help make a difference” If we start small, it’s a domino effect.
I hope someone reads this and really thinks about how sad that is for a 9 year old, to worry about being shot and killed because of the color of his skin.
My wish is that this will spark more of these hard uncomfortable conversations, and be vulnerable with one another... Let’s grow together.
-Kathleen
Xoxo