By Lilly Pidgeon | Rodrigosaffiliates.com
As a Jewish mother navigating life in a largely non-Jewish environment, I have encountered numerous trials. Our collective history is marred by persecution, and discussions about the Holocaust and various forms of injustice frequently permeate our home. I’ve raised my children—now young adults—to be proactive defenders and to understand that remaining a bystander is a form of complicity. The Hebrew phrase Tikkun Olam, meaning “repair the world,” embodies the ideals of social engagement and the quest for justice. My family has been profoundly affected by the tragic death of George Floyd, alongside the racial disparities and injustices that have persisted in our nation for far too long.
We express our unwavering support for the Black community who continues to endure suffering due to a deeply entrenched and racist system. A crime is a crime, yet there should be heightened accountability when the perpetrator holds a position of power that comes with inherent trust.
As a member of the board for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization dedicated to combating hate since 1913, I have the opportunity to pursue my lifelong commitment to being part of the solution.
Our nation is in a state of grief. George Floyd—father, brother, and friend—has been cruelly taken from us. His murder, captured on video, was so shocking that I initially struggled to accept the reality of what I was witnessing. To believe my eyes meant confronting an unimaginable level of malevolence.
We must remain vigilant in highlighting the pervasive hate and bigotry present in our society and globally. Taking action can manifest in many ways: staying informed, educating ourselves, donating to those in need, mentoring, signing petitions, being an active upstander, or voting.
In my roles as a journalist and a mother, I feel it is my duty to amplify messages of hope and unity, addressing the current historical moment by contributing to a recalibration of American values, and voicing what not only exists but what ought to be. Although I recognize the challenges ahead and my position as just one small entity in this vast world, I am wholly dedicated to this mission.
As Elie Wiesel, whom I was honored to host for a speaking event in Dallas in the late 80s, once said, “One person of integrity can make a difference.”
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When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy… Where men and women face persecution due to their race, religion, or political beliefs, that place must become the focal point of concern at that moment.
Understanding Systemic Racism: Insights from the ADL
Racism is characterized as “the marginalization and/or oppression of individuals of color based on a socially engineered hierarchy that favors white individuals.” It manifests in various facets of our lives and society, including interpersonal interactions, discriminatory policies, prejudiced language, and within our legal and institutional frameworks—spanning education, media, employment, government, and the justice system.
Many view the murder of George Floyd as emblematic of systemic racism, highlighting how race continues to disadvantage people of color within the criminal justice system. African American and Latinx individuals are disproportionately represented across all tiers of the justice system, from initial arrests to sentencing and beyond. Research indicates that African Americans are 2.5 times more likely than their white counterparts to be killed by police officers.
How Hate and Bias Intensify
On the same day that George Floyd lost his life, another incident unfolded in Central Park, New York City. Christian Cooper, an African American man engaged in birdwatching, asked a white woman, Amy Cooper (unrelated), to leash her dog as mandated by park rules when he encountered her dog off-leash. Her refusal prompted him to record the situation, leading her to threaten him by asserting she would inform the police, claiming, “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life.”
While these two occurrences may seem unrelated, they share a crucial lesson: when left unaddressed, hate and bias can escalate into severe consequences.
The Pyramid of Hate illustrates the growing complexity of biased attitudes and behaviors, where the upper tiers rest upon the foundation formed by the lower tiers, making it increasingly challenging to confront and dismantle such behaviors as they escalate. Each level of bias harms individuals, institutions, and society as a whole. When bias remains unchecked, it becomes ‘normalized,’ contributing to the entrenched acceptance of discrimination, hate, and injustice.
Amy Cooper’s reaction reflected her bias, leading her to employ the prejudice she assumed the police would harbor against Christian Cooper, whom she portrayed as a threat simply due to his race. This scenario could have escalated dangerously had law enforcement intervened. The relentless rise of hate and bias has frequently resulted in violence, claiming the lives of George Floyd and countless others.
ADL Resource on Racism and Law Enforcement
The Mission of the NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) aims to secure political, educational, social, and economic rights to eliminate race-based discrimination and promote the well-being of all individuals.
Core Objectives
- To assure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens.
- To pursue equality of rights and eliminate racial prejudice across the United States.
- To dismantle all forms of racial discrimination through democratic channels.
- To advocate for the enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws that safeguard civil rights.
- To educate the public on the detrimental effects of racial discrimination and work towards its elimination.
- To inform individuals about their constitutional rights and employ lawful actions to ensure these rights are exercised while pursuing any additional lawful actions that align with the NAACP’s foundational principles.
