“Commitment is what transforms a promise into a reality.”
– Abraham Lincoln
INTROduction To Committing
Countering Racism Requires a Genuine Personal Commitment.
A genuine commitment is required whether an individual contributor, an effective follower, or an effective leader. Our commitment comes from the vision we have of America and our place in it. It needs to be strong enough to help us get past the natural barriers to action that come as a normal part of the challenge.
What’s in This Section?
Becoming an “Anti-Racist”
“Anti-racist” = someone engaged in focused sustained action. We are either actively anti-racist or we support racism, particularly the embedded structural or systemic racism that is the heart of the issue. The challenge before us is to say “yes” and get on the field of play – to act with intent and sustain that action. We need to stay on the field as much as possible. We will inevitably retreat at times, but we cannot stay in our comfort zone for too long before engaging again.
Creating a Personal Vision of the Desired Future Worth Pursuing and the Potential Benefits
Why Act? Why get off the sideline? What is it that is worth leaving our known world – our comfort zone? What is worth the potential effort, risk, and potential sacrifice?
“Make your vision so clear that your fears become irrelevant”
– Unknown
Understanding the Journey to be Expected
If we say “yes” to going forth to counter racism we will be leaving our current known world and comfort zone to be tested – and grow in the process. This is a known path, but it will be unique for each person.