Article by Dr. Shariff Abdullah, author, and advocate for inclusivity and societal transformation

A few weeks ago, I talked to my eldest daughter, who was anxiously awaiting news that her child (my eldest grandson) had made it safely back to his college campus from the George Floyd demonstrations in Atlanta.

Here we are, 50 years since the societal upheavals of the 1960s in this country, and black parents are still fearful for the safety of their black children.

A disease festers in the heart of America. It’s been there since before the founding of our society. Its shadow falls across the face of the world. The disease persists because we keep focusing on surface symptoms, and not the underlying disease itself.

Those acquainted with The Shift Network are familiar with the language of consciousness, energy, and transformation. However, beyond using these concepts for personal gain (like manifesting money, a mate, or a parking space), our transcendent knowledge seems to fail us. We don’t have much to say about how to use energy and consciousness for societal transformation.

This must change. It’s time to step into our societal selves. It’s time to apply what we’ve learned on a personal level to our societal challenges. And racism is an ever-present, deep-rooted presenting symptom.

A “presenting symptom.” NOT the problem itself. Being “anti-racist” is like the person with lung cancer being “anti-coughing.” Being “anti-“anything just makes what you oppose stronger. We KNOW this. Now, it’s time for us all to start APPLYING it.

Responding to racism with anger, fear, and violence (or denial, empty gestures, and fad workshops) is like fighting shadows with more shadows, like fighting a raging fire with gasoline. We know better and can do better than this. We can, and we will learn how to shine the Light.

In this time of the dissolution of the caterpillar, who is holding the pattern of our societal butterfly? Who holds the pattern of a new, inclusive, and compassionate society? Not the leaders of the toxic, dysfunctional status quo. Not the extremists of the Left or the Right. Definitely not the media, who fuel our fears, confusions, and separations to sell advertising space.

We need visionary, compassionate LEADERSHIP… not empty slogans, silly gestures, or meaningless photo ops. That leadership has to be… YOU.

Credit goes to The Shift Network for posting this article: stephen@theshiftnetwork.com.