(Originally published on my Facebook page July 22, 2019, after deep consideration and assurance I could offer it out of compassion and conviction.)
Racism
When I was in college I spent much of my time alone, pondering spirituality, who I was, and how I wanted to be in the world. Out of that experience I began to sense the oneness of life and that all humanity was my family. These spiritual beliefs continue to feed my attempts to live the Quaker testimonies of equality and peace, and the Social Work value of upholding the dignity and worth of all persons. It flows through my art and my ongoing intent for this page. I want my life and my work to promote the best we all can be.
When I climb to the top of the sacred sawdust pile and look out across the world, I often find myself “sad for the sadness of the world” for what I see. I usually keep it to myself and process it through writing, meditation, prayer, and conversation with gifted souls. And sculpture. I love silence, but sometimes there is a time to speak.
It is from this spiritual center and my love for my human family that I speak and take a public stand against the rising seeds of white supremacy and racism in our country. It is not normal and must never be accepted as normal. It grows in tiny bits, and every tiny bit must be denounced.
For decades, telling someone of color to go back where they came from has been a racial insult. It’s not a new thing. The government’s own EEOC specifically uses it as an example of potentially unlawful conduct in the workplace. More importantly, people of color have experienced it hurled at them. It’s a real racist insult.
When the person elected to the highest office in our nation used that statement toward people of color, neither his anger nor his patriotism changed it from being a racist statement. It still is, and either he knew it and used it anyway, or he didn’t know it and should have retracted it and apologized upon being informed.
The issue is not, as many claim, that the four congresswomen provoked or deserved it. His position demands that he have better language skills when angry than to use a well-established racist statement when there are multiple other choices. I will not call him a racist, because I do not know that to be true. I can confidently say he used a racial insult toward people of color without an apology. And in doing so he took a step toward making it seem normal and patriotic. It is not normal and must never be normal. Not in the grocery store, not on a third grade playground, and not from the White House.
I have compassion for the president’s supporters. Most of them are people of faith, they are not racist, they otherwise support him, but when he says things like this their hearts aren’t sure how to find peace. I don’t hate the president. I want him to stop using racial insults, and not just become neutral on the topic but show true servant leadership and fight racism and white supremacy.
That’s where democracy comes in. If his supporters demanded it as a condition of their support, he would either start aggressively fighting racism and white supremacy or lose his supporters. But they have to demand it.
My stand is not political. It is for the spiritual well-being of our country and all my human family living here. I do not need Likes or affirmation, I do not fear disagreement, nor will I engage in a debate. I never considered what I might gain from this post because it’s not about me. I didn’t consider what I might lose because it doesn’t matter. Except relationships. I want to keep those. What I did consider is whether the many voices that matter to me would approve of my silence. Voices like my neighbor, the Voice inside me, my future grandchildren. And Fred Rogers. My spirit discerned they would not approve of my silence. So it is on this sacred sawdust pile that Jeff Albert and Jeff Albert Sculpture takes a stand against racism and white supremacy, and the statement made by my president. Not to hate him, or to destroy him, but for him to change.
I wish everyone Peace and Joy... and much Love...and know that I recognize the spark of divine Presence in each and every one of you,
Jeff
