My Truth

Written By Dr. Carol François

I'm done shielding people from the truth out of concern for their feelings or if I might lose them as a friend, particularly my white friends. If the truth about systemic racism causes me to lose a friend, they weren't a friend in the first place. I'm not going to rant, rave, be ugly, use bad language, etc. The truth doesn't need all that. I'm just going to stare it down for what it is.

I've had calls and posts from white friends wondering what they can do. My reaction has been blunt---stop being complicit with the system and start working to tear it down. Stop agreeing by your silence that systemic racism is okay. The old United Negro College Fund slogan was "We’re not asking for a handout, just a hand." Well, I don't want a handout or a hand, I want your hand off my shoulder holding me back and your knee off my neck killing me.

If you see a wrong and you've got the power to right it, get on it. My mantra is: Systemic Racism: See it; Say it; Confront it. Next step, dismantle it!

Dr. Carol François

I’m a lifetime educator who uses learning as a catalyst for positive change. I began my 30+ years in education at age three teaching my dolls on the doorstep outside our home. Since that career starter, I’ve served in a variety of roles including Associate Commissioner of Education for the state of Texas; Chief of Staff for the Dallas Independent School District in Dallas, Texas; Assistant Superintendent in Wake County Public Schools, North Carolina; director of learning for a 10,000 member international education association; department director at a regional education service center; as well as grade-level principal and dean of instruction in two large urban school districts. Education and learning are in my DNA, and my goal is to use my skills for the betterment of the world

https://www.whyaretheysoangry.com
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