A Time to Talk
June was a painful month. It was nearly impossible to turn on our televisions or phones without being confronted by the unrest around us. While continuing to battle COVID-19, the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have highlighted the deep-rooted injustice and pain that have plagued America from its founding. We know this feeling all too well with the memories of Michael Brown and the Stockley verdict fresh on our minds. This moment, however, feels different. Our country seems increasingly ready to address issues of race, class and gender. We must be willing to have difficult dialogue.
We recently sat down with DeJa Body, one of our Beyond School Success Coaches, to discuss her experience with identity and what ways she feels people can take advantage of this moment for change.
“We need to focus on making sure that racism does not touch our children.”
How long have you been serving with AmeriCorps & Mission: St. Louis?
I have been with Beyond School for about a year as a Success Coach and before that, I served with a nonprofit in Birmingham, AL. It’s been a lot of fun watching my students and making sure that they are making academic or social & emotional progress.
How has your background and studies impacted your time with Beyond School?
Not only am I from Alabama, but I graduated from Alabama State University, a Historically Black College. Learning from people who played key roles in the Civil Rights Movement and who have seen first-hand the underhandedness of politics helped me feel like I need to make a change, to be a part of something bigger than myself.
With Beyond School, I wanted to tailor my experience to the educational realm. Many education systems in the United States are severely underfunded and under-resourced, whether that be due to racism, classism or something else. I wanted to understand how they worked and what contributed to their success/failure. Additionally, I felt called to be there for the students. Children thrive when they have an adult that says, “I believe in you; I am here for you and stand up for you even in the darkest times.” Even if I’ve told that kid to sit in their seat five times, they are deserving of everything positive in life.
What role does dialogue have in tackling inequity?
Dialogue is the foundation of social movements and social change. Protests, writing to representatives, deep conversations, these all play a very important role. There are and always will be those who miss the mark because no one took the time to talk. Maybe they accidentally center themselves in the conversation or post something insensitive. That ability to move beyond the mistakes and open up constructive conversations is the key to progress.
Dialogue can be difficult. It is human nature to personalize things and it can be jarring to be confronted by previous actions. Yes, it’s scary for someone to look at themselves and the ways in which they have contributed to something harmful, but I think it is worth it. Here’s the thing: we all have contributed to something that hurts others. What makes someone different is when they see that and make a conscious effort to change.
How can community organizations improve in tackling issues of identity?
Good question. While I don’t necessarily think this applies to Mission: St. Louis, some organizations falter by not acknowledging differences. I remember growing up and hearing many people saying “I don’t see color.” Yet, if they do not see my color, then they can’t see that the teacher said something mean to me because I am Black; they cannot see that the police officer stopped us because there is a Black person in the car.
Look, it is uncomfortable to talk about race and class. People do not want to have conversations about how we treat different genders. If people have not had many conversations about identity, now would be a good time to have them. Now is the time to speak up about the prejudices and biases in the world and take steps to change them. Don’t throw a soft blanket on the issue by saying we are all one family because that does not do anything. Have the difficult conversations and have them facilitated by someone knowledgeable.
In your view, what can individuals do to challenge themselves and foster change?
Make sure not to center one’s self in the conversation and movement. Just recently, I heard from a friend, saying “I’m so sorry for this, I’m sorry for that and I feel bad for something.” While I appreciate that she spoke up, there are larger issues to keep our focus on. We need to focus on making sure that racism does not touch our children. We need to ensure that all of the “-isms” do not touch our children. Right now, people need to be active in fighting for whatever cause is important to them while understanding their role in the broader movement.
To those who wish to really want to make an impact, put your money where your mouth is. Support local businesses that employ local community members and directly impact the wellbeing of the community they serve. You say that you stand up for important causes but are you donating to organizations who are fighting to make sure racism doesn’t touch our kids? Are you giving time to groups that make sure that sexism and ageism die out? That can be tricky, but that is how we actually make a better future.
We have the opportunity to actually do something right now. We can actually take a step forward like many people have been fighting for decades to see. For that to happen, there needs to be a greater intention to step into uncomfortable spaces and address messy issues. If we can come together in a common mindset, imagine the impact that will make on St. Louis. Heck, think of what that could do for the country. I want to see a future where social class does not matter and my children know sexism as a story of history. I believe people are ready to ensure that this future becomes a reality, and that gives me hope.