History has shown that racism bubbles up from the waters of these kinds of health crises and eventually comes to a boil and burns us all. This is not just about Asians. It’s about how we as humans default to hate and prejudice when we’re afraid and uncertain. It’s about how our knee-jerk response to seek blame and to scapegoat is detrimental to our entire society.
Jews were persecuted and held responsible for the Black Death. Immigrant Irish workers were blamed for causing cholera. Africans were shunned during the Ebola outbreak. In Pennsylvania, a 16-year-old high school soccer player was brought to tears when taunted with chants of “Ebola” from players on a rival team.
Irrational fear becomes a driver of division and discrimination. Coronavirus is only today’s vehicle.
I will be taking the stage for TEDx Philadelphia (May 15th) and a similarly styled show called Speakers Who Dare in NYC (March 26th). My inner critic is rearing its ugly head and I am terribly nervous but also trying to lean into this new challenge.. I hope so much to use these opportunities to craft a talk that resonates and inspires… Wish me luck ;)
