My Minneapolis Process
My Minneapolis Process
This is a long read, but it feels like the appropriate format to allow me to share a bit of my story with you, my newsletter subscribers.
As the country moves through anger and grief following the death of George Floyd at the hands of 4 Minneapolis police officers, I have been struggling to come up with the appropriate words to convey what's in my heart.
Given that Minneapolis is now home for me, it's been especially poignant, relevant, and top of mind.
As my partner will attest, I am a chronic over-thinker, and it's taken me a while to gather my thoughts here. I'll do my best to share them with you.
I was born in El Salvador and was brought to the United States as a 1-year old baby. My parents lived the American dream and worked hard to raise us well, eventually buying our first house in the northern part of Yonkers, NY.
I've always been aware of my Hispanic heritage, ever since grade school. Looking back, I'm grateful that I was able experience school with mixed races at any early age.
I attended an all-boys Catholic high school in White Plains, NY and from Day 1, I was quickly reminded that the Hispanics and Blacks were clearly the minority there. Our lunch table in the back of the cafeteria was our chosen haven and the presence and sound of the boombox opened my eyes to the newest sounds of late 80's hip-hop. (UTFO vs. Roxanne Shante anyone?)
Needless to say, I never lost site of the fact that I was and am a minority.
That being said, I can see now, how throughout my adult life, I held beliefs that I now understand are racist.
I remember the first book I ever read in college which opened my eyes and mind to a way of thinking about America that up until that point, I was not aware of.
It was The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
I remember being so fascinated by the story, and even though it was decades ago, remembering the feeling of, “Hey wait, how come I've never heard of these events before?”
Systemic racism is a real problem in this country and persists in our schools, offices, court system, police departments, and elsewhere.
This article is a helpful and outlines 7 Ways We Know Systemic Racism Is Real.
While I've been active on my social media channels, I know that this is only the beginning of my journey and education. But I wanted to make this perfectly clear:
I believe Black Lives Matter.
And for those of you ready to counter, here are 6 Reasons 'All Lives Matter' Doesn't Work—in Terms Simple Enough for a Child
Many people have referenced Elizabeth Kubler Ross' 7 stages of grief as a way to process the incredibly complex series of emotions which have been felt recently. They are:
Shock and denial
Pain and guilt
Anger and bargaining
Depression
The upward turn
Reconstruction and working through
Acceptance and hope
You can read about them in more detail here. We'll all need to figure out where we are in that process, but I thought it would help provide some context in case you you're struggling, like I've been, to make sense of it all.
Onward and Upward
We have a long road ahead of us here in the United States, on our way to understanding and healing. This has been going on since the birth of this nation, so we can't expect it to get fixed over night.
I will continue to look at the all of the ways I have benefitted from my privilege as a fair-skinned Latino in this country, because I know that I have.
Like the saying goes, when you know better, do better.
I'm grateful to have learned from my Black friends and fellow Black entrepreneurs and continue to think of ways in which I can support them and be an ally.
I had the opportunity to meet Rachel Rodgers years ago through a mastermind we were both a part of and subsequently helped her launch her podcast.
I recently watched Rachel Rodger's Town Hall on 'Reimagining Small Business' and learned a lot about the things I can do better as the owner of my own business. I highly recommend you watch the replay.
A couple of takeaways:
“Be humble and ready to fumble.”
This was important for me to hear. I've always been a perfectionist, to the point of inaction, and it has caused a lot of pain and unnecessary hurt in my business and for others close to me. This is important reminder, that sometimes imperfect action is better than no action.
One of the speakers Ericka Hines, Principal of Every Level Leadership, highlighted the importance of understanding the following terms:
“Ally is a verb, not a noun.”
A reminder that I need to take ongoing action to support my Black community. This is not a one-time, check-the-box moment.
“Stop pretending to be confused.”
So powerful. Too many times, we've used the excuse of confusion as an 'out' to keep us from acting.
And lastly, if you find that you have made a mistake, here's what to say: ”I'm sorry. I apologize. I promise to change my behavior.”
Additional Resources
I'm currently listening to the audiobook version of Ibram X. Kendi's How To Be an Anti-Racist, and it's been great start for me.
We all like to think we're not racists, but it helps to step back and really look at what that word means, and then decide if it fits. Don't see it as an attack, just take it in, and then do the hard work of educating yourself.
It's safe to say that this is a conversation happening across the country. The New York Times Best Seller list is a clear indication of folks' desire to learn more.
This Twitter thread by Erica Buddington provides a concise summary of the hundreds of years of Black oppression.
This is another fascinating Twitter thread by Jared Yates Sexton, author of the upcoming 'American Rule - How a Nation Conquered the World But Failed Its People'
If video is more your thing, I highly recommend watching the Oscar-nominated The 13th, on Netflix, by Ava DuVernay. It's not easy viewing, but then again it's not supposed to be.
These recent events have highlighted all the problems with our current policing system, and all the arguments are effectively outline in this Refinery29 article It’s Not Enough To Reform The Police — Defunding Is The Only Answer.
Confession of a Former Bastard Cop is the 3rd most popular post on Medium this week. While not surprising, it is still a compelling and necessary read for a better understanding of the creation of our current police enforcement system.
What's Next?
I've been greatly inspired by people I inspire and my fellow entrepreneurs.
On Rachel's Town Hall page, you can sign the Small Business Pledge & commit to building an equitable, anti-racist organization. I've signed it and as a business owner, I encourage you to read and sign it as well.
My own education is ongoing, and I acknowledge that I have a lot of work to do. I'm committed to continuing to educate myself and demonstrate, through my actions, that I am an ally to the Black community.
As a company, I am dedicated to ensuring that as we grow, we will be conscious of building a vibrant and diverse team that is representative of the world we live in today.
If somehow, you've managed to make it through to the end of this newsletter...
I am truly appreciative and look forward to continuing the discussion.
I'm also eager to get back to a regular weekly cadence with the newsletter and continue to bring you a mix of podcasting and business tips and best practices in the coming months.