An Anti-Racist Meditation for Juneteenth
On this Juneteenth, and all days,
Grant me the curiosity to learn about the history of racism in this country, my community, my organizations, and my family;
Grant me the strength to reflect on and examine my own power and privilege in society and in the world; grant me the wisdom and will to harness that power for a more equitable world;
Grant me the moral courage to speak out against bias, stereotype, racism, and discrimination in my heart, within my family, among my friends, and in my community;
Grant me the courage to listen, hear, and understand the experiences of my Black friends, colleagues, neighbors, and those we serve; grant me the will to amplify their voices and center their truth;
Grant me the empathy to hold space for those who have experienced trauma and the compassion to see them in their full humanity;
Grant me the perception to identify policies and practices that uphold inequity and let me be steadfast in my commitment to change them;
Grant me the bravery to take action, to accept grace when I misspeak and when I speak wrongly, and to give grace to others who stumble as they learn;
Grant me gratitude for the hard work and sacrifices of those who came before us, who moved pebbles, rocks, and boulders though their quantity seemed infinite; thank you for their strength, their confidence, and for their commitment to stay true to their voice in the face of incredible adversity;
Grant me the tenacity to try, to take small steps towards moving these mountains, and the determination to keep trying though every step may be part failure;
Grant me the humility to receive feedback on my work and the courage to continue despite my mistakes;
Grant me the tools to know that we cannot tear down oppression without tearing down privilege; to build the future we must dismantle monuments to hate, especially those in our own hearts;
Grant me the insight to see and eradicate opportunities for bias in our systems and structures, within our organization, society, government, and world;
Grant me the courage to be vulnerable, the voice to ask questions when I don’t understand, and the resilience to embrace my discomfort;
Grant me the perspective to know this is a lifelong journey, the wisdom to view each time I act or speak as the opportunity to be anti-racist, and the resolve to see myself as a powerful actor in bringing about change;
Grant me the fortitude to do this work in visible and invisible ways, personally and professionally, on this day of Emancipation and always, Amen.
Nicole Hepner is a health care design researcher focused on vulnerable populations.
Stephanie Hepner is an international school educator committed to equity in education.
