The Salmon Saga: Viking Hacks 6
A special message in the fight against racism on how confrontation can help us build communities that includes.
Time to Read: 5 min
Hey, guys.
Yes, you are right. This newsletter should have been posted last Monday. Ironically I was not productive enough with work. It has been a busy period, but meditation has kept me in balance. I would like to remind people of how valuable it can be. I wrote a newsletter a couple of weeks ago about this and maybe this is a good time for a revisit.
Now, this week I would like to speak about something different than usual because it is very relevant. It has been on my mind for a long time and I finally found the guts to write about it. I would like to address the importance of taking action in a period where the value of black lives is still being discussed.
I want to share some personal thoughts on what I have experienced as far as productive practices in a time where we need people who can take action. This newsletter will be different and I hope I can have five minutes of yours.
You might want to listen.
Honestly, I spent many hours writing this. I found it very confronting and it took me many hours of research to finally understand how serious and delicate this situation is. The thoughts I share are a result of my present reflection.
I must admit that I probably grew up in a bubble. I have been surrounded by great people since I was young and the society I grew up in offered opportunities, support and education. I am forever grateful for this, but I am realising that it came with a bitter aftertaste. The non-existing exposure to critical, societal issues. Like racism.
As a white male I have come to consider myself privileged. This was not the case previously. Only when I started travelling the world I saw to what extent it actually meant something. I now understand that I have been naive for many years. Racism is not just something far away on the other side of the Atlantic. I have come to realise that racism has been here all along. I even recall situations from my time as a football player when incredibly talented teammates were judged based on their racial heritage, something I didn’t understand back then. I thought it was impossible for such a thing to happen when there was so much focus on fair play.
I now realise that during small moments in our lives, small seeds of unsafeness and exclusion are being planted by the way we act, and not act. It even happens in sports, which I always believed was supposed to bring people together. And I have come to understand that admitting my naivety is a good way to finally open my eyes.
I now see it as my responsibility to understand what privileges it gives me to be white. It is also my responsibility to remove whatever barriers that exists for people of a different background. When we accept the fact that there is some called “us” and others referred to as “them”, we create communities that are good for a small group, but surely not for everyone. That is why I believe it is important to work together with people and cultures that have been suppressed, to finally build inclusive communities.
I am 25 years old now. I realise how easy it has been for me to not take part of this racial discussion, like it was not my responsibility. For a long time I felt distanced from the whole debate because my own naivety. But racism does not go away because I simply dont like it, or because I simply tell others that I am not a racist. It can only go away if people like you and me take responsibility to get to the bottom of our own actions and attitudes.
To look for racism in ourselves is uncomfortable, but I think it is necessary to ask ourselves: can we deny that we treat people differently based on how they look? There is clearly a white elephant in the room that nobody wants to address.
That is why I encourage people like me to stand up against racism. Not passively, but actively. Learn about other peoples homes, hearts and history. Dont be afraid to ask questions. Sign petitions. Give attention to this problem and show that you care.
This is why I would like to share some tips in these times of change. I am not a Harvard professor that graduated with a PHD in communication sciences, but I have family, friends, colleagues and roles models around me that taught me a couple of things. I hope these thoughts can make the world a better place:
1. Research & Learn
Do yourself a favour and explore the story behind other cultures. We have access to many sources today and we can learn so much. Watch small documentaries on YouTube, read articles, ask others and find information. One of the videos that I found very helpful when researching for this letter was:
2. Listen to Learn
Start by noticing how much of your thinking that derives from memory. We have many already existing responses and opinions. Try to listen without resistance and pay attention to your reactions. Get rid of the noisy turmoil that prevents you from listening and start with a clean slate because judging doesn’t help anyone.
3. Walk the Talk
If you hear something inappropriate, say it. Its not only good to care, but necessary to take a stand. Make people around you understand that it matters. Don’t be naive and deny the fact that racism is not real. Desmond Tutu once said: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor”. Don’t be conflict shy and afraid that confrontation will cause more damage
4. Search in Yourself
Maybe the most important: learn to recognise and understand your own privileges. Examine your own biases and consider where they have originated from. What are the underlying feelings regarding racism that you have never faced before? Talk about what you feel with others and start challenging the “colorblind” ideology.
With this letter I encourage you to take action. Take the time to learn something new about racial segregation or cultural heritage. Open your ears, leave space for people to teach you, remove that ego of yours and validate experiences and feelings of people with another colour. This applies to all cultures and communities, and I hope we never again have to remind each other that black lives matter.
I would like to share a book-recommendation of mine, which is purely focused on conversational skills if you are interested in becoming a better communicator:
The next round of Viking Hacks will come out Monday 29th of June.
If you have feedback, send an email to marco.ab.hjorth@gmail.com. I would love to hear more from you. My goal is to create a community where we share experiences with one another and learn to find a better balance.
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognise, accept, and celebrate those differences.
Yours,
Marco h.