Many of us became lawyers because we believe in justice, we care about our communities and we want to make a difference in the world. This year, it was particularly hard to focus on that larger perspective.
I'll admit that being homebound has led me to spiral into the internet rabbit-hole more times than I can count. After a particularly depressing and acrimonious 2020, I was tired of the harsh rhetoric, and I knew better things were happening around me.
So, I started Googling things like, “reconciliation,” "truth tellers," and “promoting peace,” just to read about people courageous enough to stand in the gap and bridge the great divide. I was not disappointed.
In fact, “Truth and Reconciliation” commissions have been happening around us for a long time, many of which were created to lend transparency to tragic events, such as what occurred on November 3, 1979, known as the Greensboro Massacre, when a convoy of nine vehicles containing members of the Ku Klux Klan opened fire on a group of unarmed protestors in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The peaceful march sought to bring attention to social, economic and racial injustice. But, following acquittals of the gunmen by two all-white juries, the shadow of injustice lingered for years in that community due to the lack of accountability and rumors of the police department’s collusion with the KKK.
Decades later, the public called for accountability. In response, the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created in November 1999 to investigate the police and city’s conduct and to help bring healing and closure to a still-grieving community.
Despite local efforts to stonewall participation and general doubts about the commission’s ability to effect lasting social change, the commission ultimately collected 145 oral statements ranging from demonstrators, current and former Greensboro police officers, current or former members of the KKK and a judge.
Based in large part on the commission's efforts, the city council issued an informal apology in August 2017. On October 6, 2020, the council issued a historic, official apology to the survivors of the massacre substantively addressing the involvement of the city and the police department in the massacre and cover up.
Until recently, the Greensboro Massacre was relegated to a footnote in history and rarely, if ever, mentioned in school textbooks. But the recent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the public outcry that followed, brought this and other stories of systemic racism and oppression to the forefront.
When I hear stories like this, of courageous people leading a community through the long winding path to reconciliation, I often feel overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of our shared objective and wonder how I can meaningfully participate in the process of reconciliation. But what I found here surprised me.
When leaders of these commissions were asked to describe the most important aspect about the healing process, the common thread was not about complex strategies. Rather, it was about having conversations with people who experienced racism so that they felt seen and heard. Only then did the truth come out and the healing process begin.
Some people needed an apology, but others just needed a chance to tell their stories about what it felt like to experience racism and oppression. This was good news for me because we can all be good listeners, myself included.
A good listener also means asking questions that go beneath the surface of what is seen. That was more good news for me because I can always ask questions – heck, I’m a lawyer. That’s my superpower!
The third thing I noticed was that each side was willing to be vulnerable for the sake of building a bridge. That’s hard for me. I generally lean towards guarded stoicism. But for the sake of reconciliation, would I be willing to tell my personal story of an Asian American woman born of Chinese immigrants and raised in Tacoma in the 1980s? I’d like to think so, but this is my work in progress, to be sure.
In short, small steps mean a lot when you’re on a long journey. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” says a well-known proverb. It’s the same with bridge-building.
So, for those of who want to make a difference but struggle with big steps, how about breaking it down to smaller steps? Like reading a book or listening to a TED Talk about a particular aspect of systemic racism.
A small step could even be just a change in perspective or a renewed commitment to listen with openness to change. Everything begins in the mind, after all.
Good things happen with small steps! I hope this holiday season gives you true restorative rest, whether emotionally, physically, mentally or spiritually.
I look forward to seeing you all in the new year! - Priscilla
