The World As I Know It...

The world as we know it, has changed so drastically since 5/25/2020. I have talked about this briefly in my last post. I knew from the moment that I saw protestors and heard their roaring voices that I needed to get myself to a protest. To some of you back home in the Midwest this may be a little too much for you, but let me clear this is who I have always been. If you knew me on a more than surface level you would know that I am very liberal minded. Being an ER Nurse has made this that much deeper. I take care of people on their worst days regardless of their sex, race, socioeconomic status, age and nationality. I see everyone! We are all affected by mental health and medical conditions, but the African American population is hit harder than any other. I understand that some may not be able to see or understand this because you do not see this on a daily basis. So please take a moment to listen to those around you and educate yourself. Because we must do better!

“When you believe niceness disproves the presence of racism, it's easy to start believing bigotry is rare, and that the label racist should be applied only to mean-spirited, intentional acts of discrimination." - Austin Channing Brown

Maybe its from the perspective of being a Forensic Nurse, ER Nurse or maybe just who I am as a person that I am able to understand the cry of rage from rioters and looters. I know that those who have experienced trauma tend to act out in rage when they are in the ER setting and sometimes are viewed as the "difficult" patients. They could be screaming, calling me profane names and I would still take the time to let them know that I am here for them. Sometimes that is different for each patient; regardless of what I do to get through to them that, I am here and not going anywhere regardless if they use my resources as an ER Nurse or Forensic Nurse. Because most of the time, those who have experienced trauma feel isolated and afraid of how people will judge them for being vulnerable. I relate this to the rioters and looters in the sense that as much as I can be empathetic because I know that I can never feel everything that the black community has endured, they have been through so much so I totally get being enraged and wanting to act out. They as a community have followed the rules that we as a society has set for them and we have let them down time and time again.

“Rules existed for a reason: if you followed them, you would succeed; if you didn't, you might burn the world to the ground.” Celeste Ng

I believe that how we are reacting to what is going on in the world is really important to moving us forward as a nation. I know that these conversations we must have are uncomfortable but so so so necessary! I know this because of a quote from Nelson Mandela that I found while walking the streets of NYC.

That being said, I chose to go to two protests this past week. The first one was on Breonna Taylor's Birthday 6/5/2020, a Birthday she never got to celebrate. Being able to be speak her name on what would have been her 27th Birthday was humbling. Just turning 28 myself, brought the harsh reality of my own white privilege, because I will likely never have to face what she faced. Or will never have to die in the manner that she did, and for that I am grateful. But enough is enough, I can not sit idly by. If you have a problem then that, then you know what sorry not sorry. I have spent far too long restraining my internal voice on issues because I have been told to be politically correct because of where I live. My soul is tired of muting my views and opinions. But just because I believe differently than you does not mean I will respect you any less. I believe that we need to have some very hard conversations and in order to do that we must come to some common ground to ensure that we are continuing to have the conversations that need to happen.

The second protest that I had the privilege going to was one for just health care workers. I think that it is utterly beautiful to be in a profession that the President of the American Nurses Association says this,

"Racism is a longstanding public health crisis that impacts both mental and physical health. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this crisis and added to the stress in the black community, which is experiencing higher rates of infection and deaths.

At this critical time in our nation, nurses have a responsibility to use our voices to call for change. To remain silent is to be complicit. I call on you to educate yourself and then use your trusted voice and influence to educate others about the systemic injustices that have caused the riots and protests being covered in the news. The pursuit of justice requires us all to listen and engage in dialogue with others. Leaders must come together at the local, state, and national level and commit to sustainable efforts to address racism and discrimination, police brutality, and basic human rights. We must hold ourselves and our leaders accountable to committing to reforms and action. 

I have a deeper moral vision for society, one in which we have a true awareness about the inequities in our country which remain the most important moral challenge of the 21st century. This pivotal moment calls for each of us to ask ourselves which side of history we want to be on and the legacy we will pass on to future generations.” - Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN

(to read his entire message go to this link https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2020/ana-president-condemns-racism-brutality-and-senseless-violence-against-black-communities/ )

To be apart of this profession is an absolute privilege and honor for me. To have people in leadership who get why my heart feels the call to stand up for injustice because it ultimately the right thing to do, period! This brings me to tears, because I too envision our country to be a more tolerant place for all people no matter the color place of their skin. This may be a little idealistic and you may say a frivolous dream but to me, Its what I will spend my whole life doing. No matter how hard and trying at times it may be, I think we should leave the world a better place than when it was given to us. We are all capable of kindness and should show each other more kindness, grace, humility and compassion.

At both of these protests I witnessed so much love from those watching us march down streets, they cheered us on through the claps of their hands, beating on pots and pans, honking their horns and blasting music. I saw little ones who melted my heart, and reminded me that they are exactly why we are doing this, so maybe one day when they are the age of George Floyd or Breonna Taylor that they do not have to face the harsh reality that they both did.

Now both of these protests were peaceful, but we did hear chants against NYPD and police brutality. Now I am privileged in the fact that I have not had to face police brutality, I do know it exists. I also know some AMAZING police officers who set off in their profession to make the world a better and safer place. I'm not sure what the world would look like without police, but I do know that we need to help them change as a profession for the better. I know that the good cops out there are pissed and upset by the police that believe situations like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the long list of black men and women that have been killed by police. They are good people just like that all too long list of victims of police brutality were good people. We are all human, we are all sinners, I believe that we need to show each other a whole lot of love right now! We are all hurting and "for love comes more naturally to the human than it's opposite".

If you want to talk to me about how I am continuing to educate myself or want resources then please, please message me. This is something I am really passionate about, and would love to have meaningful conversations about the world that we are facing and how we can be the change in the world we wish to see.

Love,

Destinee