If you watched the Oscars on Sunday night you would have seen Chris Rock nail social injustices in our society on the head in a way that I can only dream of! Here was a black man being hired by the Hollywood industry to lead one of the most popular award shows in the world and the controversy around racism was rampant this year. I loved how he named the fact that Hollywood is still racist and sexist too. He named invisible oppression well in his description about the lack of parts for black people. He said "They don't hire black people.....and they're the nicest white people ever....they're liberals". Regarding women he said “This isn’t track and field. It’s not like Robert De Niro is like, ‘I need to slow down so Meryl Streep can catch up.'” However he also named that they are complaining and they all make more money than most people in the world ever will!!! This speaks to the inherent problem with being a part of ANY group that is oppressed within a majority population that does not see reality through the same lens. I'll give you a very funny example. At the campground I go to there are no dogs allowed. (I know right?!!! ????) The majority of the people who go there are used to this being the rule so they are entrenched in this being 'the way'. Of course dog owners don't bother going so the few people that would like to go and take their dogs are always outnumbered and therefore....change doesn't happen! As long as the marginalized population doesn't band together, use their voice and find allies in the dominant stream in any situation of oppression then the dominant population usually doesn't say....."gee .....it will be in both of our best interest to share power and problem solve here." However.....IT IS!!!! We are not whole as people until we can claim both our strength AND our vulnerability! In Emma Watson's speech to the United Nations she said "the more I have spoken about feminism, the more I have realized that fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with men-hating. ... Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. ... Men – I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue, too." YES!! We need to stop putting people into roles and start being and relating mindfully as whole people.....everyone! This is an evolutionary issue. Women have the vote thanks to the suffragettes and black people are not being lynched and hung like they were in the 50's thanks to Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey and all of the thousands of people who have fought to end slavery around the world. However....we are all not equal and inclusive and we ALL need to work towards this so that any of our loved ones that may be in the marginalized populations can feel whole and loved....and we can feel proud and happy. Why is this a blog post on creating resilience and hope? Because each of us needs to look at whether we are denying ourselves our vulnerability or our power and work to reclaim that.....together. Happy International Women's Day! Enjoy this beautiful song called "We are One Woman"
https://youtu.be/ldyvIcVR9JI
https://youtu.be/ldyvIcVR9JI
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