Friends,

It's difficult to remain quiet in the midst of all of the pain and anguish. As many of you have gotten to know me, I write extensively about kindness, but as a highly practical person, I also have a tendency to pull no punches. So, here are some brief thoughts for your consideration.

Anger: There's a reason we have this emotion as human beings. But we're taught to suppress it. It's not a bad emotion per se. Be angry as hell. Use it to mobilize. Direct the anger toward the situation while maintaining your joy and kindness with friends and allies. 

Forgiveness: It's overrated. We're taught that we have to forgive. No we don't. We can choose what we want to forgive or not. It's OK to believe that what the cops did to George Floyd is unforgivable. It really is OK! Don't force an action that will eat at your soul. For those that can forgive, great, but for those who can't forgive, that's fine too. Consider releasing yourself from this societal norm. 

Anger and a lack of forgiveness doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you human. Harness this energy to find solutions. As Rapper and Activist Killer Mike said, "Plot, plan, strategize, organize and mobilize."

There are so many positive actions we can take. A quick one is to donate to the premier legal organization fighting for racial justice, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. 

Another action is to please take quality time to digest Dr. Frank Harris III and Dr. J. Luke Wood's webinar: Employing Equity-Minded & Culturally-Affirming Teaching & Learning Practices in Virtual Learning Communities.

In solidarity,

Coach Al