Why so much hatred?
I woke up this morning and one of the first things my wife said to me was, “ There was another shooting in a gay bar last night, 5 people were killed and more were injured.”
I didn’t even know where it happened, but I closed my eyes for a second and said, “Not again.” She followed with something like, “Why do they hate us?”
We frequently talk about wanting to create an environment where people can bring their whole self to work and sadly, that often means an identity (skin color, disability, mental health status, sexual orientation, etc.) that is targeted. And while this particular situation is violently targeted, it also includes other types that are just as damaging- like racial profiling, hiring bias, or laws that target trans kids under the guise of protection.
When incidents of targeted violence and hatred take place, whether in our neighborhood, our state, in our country or around the world, members of those communities feel targeted as well. We feel vulnerable to the prejudice of others, keenly aware of the possibility that someone around us will see who we are and act out. This feeling also happens at work. We experience vicarious trauma and it is compounded each time a new incident occurs.
The Black community experiences this phenomenon disproportionately, whether the victim(s) are nearby or across the globe. As members of a global community, we mourn. So at work, as colleagues, leaders, mentors and friends, we must demonstrate the awareness that people are being impacted by these acts of violence and show true empathy. Reach out with genuine concern and let people know you see their pain. The women who came to check on me after the Pulse nightclub shooting were all Black women. I truly believe that was because they understood that a tragedy in my broader community would create both hurt and fear in me.
Stay aware of the tragedies that continue to take place around us. And if you become aware that the targeted group is not one you belong to, stop then to think, “Who do I know who does?” That thought process helps us broaden our perspective, connect more fully with others, and over time, changes our minds.
