We Are SUFFOCATING Our Opportunity

I was talking to one of the kids the other day about Woodsy the Owl. IDK who remembers this but "back in my day" we had a social problem with littering. People would throw trash right out of the window. I know, I did it too. Can you imagine, car trash: whole cups from McDonald's, package wrappers, cigarette butts, etc.. right out of the window to land on fields, highways, and even in neighborhoods.

Because littering was such an issue during the 1970s, our nation created a great campaign and a subsequent Public Service Announcement: "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute".

We overcame littering (for the most part) and now we educate on recycling, even going so far as to hold manufacturers responsible for creating product packaging that is HARD to recycle and we are pushing them to take the responsibility in making sure their products are sustainable and eco-friendly. In my industry, Consumer Packaged Goods, they take sustainability SERIOUSLY at the DEMAND of the consumer. We're not completely there, but we are a hell of a lot closer than we are when it comes to the even more damaging, life-threatening and life-TAKING social issue of racism and discrimination.

A lot has changed over these 30-40 years, but what hasn't changed much is the deeply embedded racism and discrimination that has been blatantly displayed over and over again. In OUR times. In America, "The land of the FREE, home of the BRAVE."

We've recently seen just how prevalent it is in our society, hidden in the dark, but now let into the light, despite many attempts at non-discrimination and anti-racism education from corporations across America and those who would seek to make real change, many of those people whose lives it rarely touches, and cannot believe this is STILL a conversation after all of these years. It's real. It's destroying all of us.

But this is OUR country. We just celebrated Memorial Day in remembrance of those we lost who fought and died for what we believe in.

My PARENTS fought this fight, so did yours. Those who went to WAR, and befriended people of all ethnic backgrounds KNEW. "We're Stronger Together". We have to have each other's backs. We have to fight for what we believe in.

Due to Covid 19, we've recently spread the phrase: "We're in this together", but clearly, we are not as the brunt of this mess lands hard on people of color because of the inequality stretched across all of the systems that were created to help Americans. They are still failing. We are failing.

We need education. Kindergarten level, basic education, and marketing campaigns that will teach our children, and those who cannot grasp the basic concept that racism is NOT acceptable in our society. Period. This cannot go on. We cannot let it hold one more breath in one more generation.

Blatant racism should be a non-issue, those who contribute to it: a pariah to society. It should not HAVE to be a discussion as MY generation had this discussion already.

My parents KNEW and taught this was not appropriate social behavior and reinforced it with the BASIC understanding when we were KIDS that we are ALL created EQUAL. Think about that statement and how long it has been around...

And now, many anti-racist white people who have been complacent, myself included, are being asked to step up and make a difference. We HAVE to choose a side. You can no longer stay on the sidelines and be a well-rounded member of society. Our backs are against the wall on this one, folks. It's no longer 'someone else's problem', it's ours and we have to take on this responsibility.

But I have always been an optimist, seeing the gold at the end of the rainbow. We speak about challenge creating a path for opportunity. THIS is it. THIS is the perfect time to end this fight once and for all.

We need a REAL and impactful change in how we (all of society) view the citizens in our country, which until recent years, WAS truly great, even though we are a young country with a lot to learn.

We need to abolish the 'cowboy ways' if we are to emerge as a country to compete with on any stage, especially in business. We should not be a laughing stock internationally. International businesses should not be thinking: "Oh, that America... They are COWBOYS..." We should have a better image by now.

People bring their gifts and contributions here from across the globe, to the 'great' U.S. of A. (as they did in the days of my grandparents) to seek OPPORTUNITY and on this current path, we are NOTHING. We offer nothing to those great minds who have always contributed to making this country BETTER.

This has nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with social justice and how we treat people, how we want to be viewed as a nation, and how we want to expand into this next decade. We will culture our own demise if we do nothing. We will be nothing to those who bring their great skills, experts in industry, innovation, and advancement if we do NOTHING.

It's TIME to do SOMETHING. We need to fight for what is right if we have any hope at all.

United we stand. United we can make a difference. This has all been SAID. But each of us has to make a stand personally. Now it's time for action. Here are 10 things you can do to support people of color right now, according to Forbes.