This moment in time, with all its pain, rage, and sorrow, is not new for Black bodies in America. Nor is the frustration new for activists from marginalized communities who have been engaged in the work of equity and racial justice for decades. Yet this inflection point feels different. After bearing witness to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many others, people are moved to begin the work of anti-racism, join protests, and hold those who have caused irreparable harm accountable. This is heartening.
Yet, I urge all White and Non-Black POC allies to consider the call of Charles M. Blow in The New York Times: “This has to be a forever commitment, even after protest eventually subsides.” To me this means, will we commit ourselves to this work, and will we willingly give up privilege so that systemically excluded Black Americans are finally included? If the answer is yes, then let’s learn from, and amplify, Black voices.
I view this as part of our commitment to the path of awakening. CIMC founder Larry Rosenberg teaches about the difference between natural and artificial flowers. Our practice will be sterile if we only view it as self-improvement. We must dive in to truly orient our hearts and minds towards liberation for it to bloom.
As a South Asian, Muslim-born immigrant, I am engaged in the deeply personal work of undoing my internalized racism, while grappling with the racism I have faced as a person of color in America. I’ve started by looking at my own heart and mind. I know this from the dhamma. “Ehipassiko, come and see,” said the Buddha.
Relinquishing privilege and engaging in the movement will look different depending on identity and circumstances. Actions include questioning long-held beliefs and assumptions, supporting or joining protests, donating money, supporting Black leaders and businesses, contacting local representatives, understanding cultural appropriation, and voting.
This work is not easy in the best of circumstances. In the face of immense suffering from racial violence, a global pandemic, economic woes, and climate change, finding the stamina to keep going is key. The teachings remind us to replenish and strengthen hearts and know that our practice doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Social context and identity provide a framework as we now move towards the alleviation of our suffering and the suffering of others by fully committing to focus on our Black brothers and sisters.
The intertwined forever commitments of anti-racism and awakening invite us to reckon with the truth. “Like fighting an addiction, being an antiracist requires persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism, and regular self-examination,” says Ibram X. Kendi, in How to Be an Antiracist. “The Buddha’s very last words, spoken to his closest followers who surrounded his deathbed, were these: Things fall apart; tread the path with care,” says Winton Higgins in “Treading the Path with Care” in Tricycle Magazine. Acting with intention and diligence, we can walk this path with honesty and care, one breath and one step at a time, forever.