Removing Fear

I sometimes think life is one big lesson in learning how to overcome our fears.

We have social fears, physical fears, abstract fears and life threatening fears.

Often, our fear is irrational, meaning we have no good reason to be afraid. 

Every time we confront one of our irrational fears, we are able to experience life more fully and without the self-imposed restrictions our fears place on us.  

There is another reason to confront our irrational fears.

Fear leads to anger and if left unchecked, it can lead to really stupid behavior.

The race relations Americans struggle with – are largely a result of fear.

Way too many white skinned folk are irrationally afraid of black skin. 

This fear of black skin is so out of control and irrational that we are able to rationalize the killing of unarmed black skinned people as a form of self-defense. 

As a result, black folk are rightly afraid of being killed by irrationally fearful white folks. 

I for one am sick and tired of irrationally fearful white folks killing black skinned people as a way to “protect” themselves from their irrational fears. 

If Humanism means anything, it means remembering that we are all humans.

There is no “other” to be afraid of. There is just us.

If you are a white person afraid of black skin the first step to removing that fear is to acknowledge that yes, you do have some fear and that your fear is irrational!

Challenge your fears, challenge your assumptions and for goodness sake stop being afraid of your black skinned brothers and sisters.