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“Dear Colleagues,
“America is woven of many strands. I would recognize them and let it so remain. Our fate is to become one, and yet many.” — Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man
As a very young man, Ralph Ellison’s novel about the experience of being a Black person in America deeply affected me. While knowing, as a White man, that I’d probably never fully understand that experience, I was determined to do anything within my power to stand for equity, social justice and respect for the dignity of all people. At Road To Responsibility, Inc. these values are at the core of all vie do. We will never tolerate discrimination of any kind at RTR.
Like all of you, I was horrified, confused and angered by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. How is it possible that, in 2020 America, a cooperative, handcuffed, Black man could end up dying because he was being further restrained by a police officer kneeling on his neck for nearly 9-minutes? This is especially dismaying considering this year will mark the 155th anniversary of the last slaves in America being freed at the end of the Civil War (6/19/1865; Juneteenth)! Sadly, the dark stain of racism upon the soul of the United States remains.
To end this centuries’ old scourge, we must all stand together and commit to peacefully standing up for, and protecting, the rights of Black Americans and all others. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it better than I could ever hope to when he proclaimed, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
We clearly still have much to do in our society. Be filled with courage and love for all as our country struggles to finally find a path which will forever heal us, bring us together and ultimately, live up to the standards set forth in our republic’s founding documents where, “…all men (and women) are created equal…” and where there truly exists, “… justice for all.”
Sincerely,
Chris White, President & CEO, Road to Responsibility”