Marathon of Anti-Racism

One of the thoughts that keep repeating in my mind is: This. Is. A. Marathon. 

Training for a marathon was one of the hardest disciplines and physical/mental feats I have done. It wasn’t necessarily fun, but I knew what I was getting out of it. And while the training was rigorous, it prepared me for whatever the actual race, in real life, would bring. At the end, I knew what I stood for and my “why.”

This fight against racial injustice, systemic racism, and police brutality is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Similar to not knowing much until I did the research and really dug into my own training, so too must we educate ourselves, continually question and make amends and adjustments with what’s going on in our world right now.

I was never a long distance runner. I was also never that into politics, until you realize you’re called to rise up to be your better self. Running a marathon was a chance to push myself in a journey I’d never taken before, and in this case - this is a chance to bring about what’s right for humanity. 

Training for the marathon was “fun” at times but what I valued most from it was the mental (and physical) strength and a sense of clarity. Getting to know myself better, getting stronger each day (even on the days that felt like a step back), being mindful of what I consumed, and filtering out what didn’t serve me. It also taught me the importance of self-care. I couldn’t keep cranking day in day out but had to take time for rest too. To fuel up for the next run. Catching the metaphors here?

I hope to see this change come within my lifetime. But wherever the finish line of this marathon will be, I’ll keep running (or jogging or walking or stretching). Listening, thinking critically, learning, unlearning, and continually working on being a better human. 

This isn’t just about a few books, movies, articles, postings…this is a lifelong practice of what you decide to do privately and publicly. Just as we need to be intentional about any cause or value we care about from sustainability to faith, we too need to be intentional, informed, and action-oriented to be anti-racist.

Let’s keep each other accountable. Let’s be ok being uncomfortable, making mistakes, educating ourselves, sharing resources, and keep becoming better versions of ourselves and our world.

#blacklivesmatter #nojusticenopeace