Friends,
What we are witnessing across the nation right now is the outcry of fellow Americans who are frustrated and tired of being devalued, disregarded, and murdered with near impunity. The murder of George Floyd for "suspected forgery," the late and opaque attention to the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, and the attempted weaponization of police violence against an unarmed birdwatcher, Christian Cooper, lay bare the gross mistreatment of Black citizens at the hands of the privileged and powerful. This week, thousands of our fellow Americans have taken to the streets to stand in solidarity and to protest. We respect the value of Black lives at the heart of this moment, and pray for justice and understanding.
The uncomfortable truth: the “normal” world that exists for Black Americans is often filled with injustice, apathy, and a terror that coexists with our laws, rights, and norms. A world where one can wake up every morning uncertain whether they will be safe taking a jog, birdwatching in a public park, or even napping in their own apartment. The reality is, a major question in Black life is not if one will be randomly brutalized, but rather, when. The resulting fear can be paralyzing, and overlaid on a global pandemic impacting Blacks at a greater rate only adds to the feeling of helplessness.
The vastness of the problem is overwhelming and crushing at times. But that doesn’t make it any less urgent. As a community that fights daily for the inclusion and respect of individuals with Down syndrome, racial injustice should bring similar passion and radical empathy. We cannot miss the opportunity to educate ourselves on the history and ongoing impact of racial injustice, and how we can each do our part to build a better world. As a non-profit built on the belief that bringing people together creates change, we will not miss the chance to step into action now. Black lives matter.
The vision for a world of belonging at PALS starts with the commitment to recognize and celebrate the intrinsic value in every person. Although COVID-19 prevents us from gathering together for camp, I encourage you to look for ways to bring the mission of PALS into the world around us. Bring the passion, bring the hope, but listen actively, and then bring the action.
“The beauty of anti-racism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it’s the only way forward.” - Ijeoma Oluo
To our Black campers, volunteers, families and community members, we see you, we love you and we are here for you. Below are some resources that may be of comfort, however modest. Thank you to Jacob Adeniran, PALS Head of Diversity and Inclusion, for compiling the following:
To all others looking to act as allies, some productive steps include:
Donate to organizations that do and/or promote anti-racism work
Call out injustice and discrimination- whether your own biases or those of a loved one
Practice active listening when hearing the experiences of those most impacted by recent events
Learn more. 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
We want to make this world a better place. It starts now.
With PALS love,
Jenni
Co-Founder & Executive Director