The death of George Floyd was a tragic but all too familiar reminder of the injustice and violence that black people experience on a daily basis. Amongst all the pain, rage, and sadness that typically accompany such an event, it is the familiarity that is most unsettling. The fact that this one death is so emblematic of countless other experiences of brutality by police officers for literally generations creates a feeling of hopelessness and inevitability that truly weighs down the soul.
There is a typical cycle whenever an act of police violence occurs where people are outraged, protests occur, politicians promise change, the protests quell, and nothing fundamentally changes. The inevitability of futility is often the most enraging part of such a senseless and unjust death. That feeling of hopelessness and inability to change the system is frustrating to me but I can only imagine the impact it has had on generations of black people for over the last 400 years.
In the face of a world full of such great and overwhelming injustice, I am reminded of a battle that often permeates my heart. I'm referring to cynicism vs. skepticism. Cynicism is a certainty that the system is rigged so you cant win so don't even try. Cynicism is knowing that both politicians on the ballet are crooks so don't even bother to vote. Cynicism is knowing your voice doesn't matter.,so don't speak out. It is the certainty of cynicism that is so toxic and ultimately tragic as it leads to that same feeling of inevitability and hopelessness in times of such great injustice.
With skepticism, there are those same suspicions, concerns, and doubts, but you leave open the possibility that this time things can be different. This time, we will get it right and there will be real change. Skepticism is much more healthy than cynicism because people in power need to be challenged, policy proposals need a critical eye , pretty words are not to be trusted without real action backing them up. But ultimately, change can only happen if you truly believe it is possible. This is where my heart is today.
For the last 3 years, Gray Ducks has provided free fitness programs to some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable youth in the state. We have taught yoga in juvenile correctional facilities, domestic abuse shelters, low income public housing ,and some of our poorest communities. We have facilitated recreational sports programs such as kickball, volleyball, dodgeball, and so on for at-risk youth as a means to develop social skills, self-esteem, and positive mindsets towards health and wellness in these kids. During the last 3 years, we have also worked with the some of the populations that are most vulnerable to police violence.
I have witnessed firsthand the fear and distrust that these kids feel as police cars drive by. Hearing the yells of "popo" and witnessing kids as young as 6 shut down in fear is a palpable and unsettling sight. I have also participated in activities for community engagement with police where I have seen the eagerness and sincerity of certain police officers to engage positively and show love to the people they serve. Ultimately though, I know that at some point, some of the kids that I have worked with over the last 3 years will experience some form of violence at the hands of a police officer. This breaks my heart.
A common refrain in our current national discourse on police violence is that it is a public health issue for black people and this is a hard argument to dispute. For an organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness for the most vulnerable people in our community, Gray Ducks would be remiss to not include the issue of police violence under our mission. Over the next few months we will be working hard to roll out a series of programs to address police violence and strengthen our community. We will include social justice, racial inequality, and systemic racism as part of a holistic approach to community health. Our previous tagline was "Healthy Kids for Healthy Communities" and I now believe that healthy communities will provide for healthy kids.
We can not sub-come to the cynicism that change is not possible. Real change starts with the belief in the possible. and that this time will be different. This is what I am seeing in the streets today and in the voices of our community and for once the inevitability of futility does not feel like an absolute. This is a brave new world and Gray Ducks hopes to play our part in it.
R. Scott Hauschild
Executive Director of Gray Ducks
director@grayducks.org
There is a typical cycle whenever an act of police violence occurs where people are outraged, protests occur, politicians promise change, the protests quell, and nothing fundamentally changes. The inevitability of futility is often the most enraging part of such a senseless and unjust death. That feeling of hopelessness and inability to change the system is frustrating to me but I can only imagine the impact it has had on generations of black people for over the last 400 years.
In the face of a world full of such great and overwhelming injustice, I am reminded of a battle that often permeates my heart. I'm referring to cynicism vs. skepticism. Cynicism is a certainty that the system is rigged so you cant win so don't even try. Cynicism is knowing that both politicians on the ballet are crooks so don't even bother to vote. Cynicism is knowing your voice doesn't matter.,so don't speak out. It is the certainty of cynicism that is so toxic and ultimately tragic as it leads to that same feeling of inevitability and hopelessness in times of such great injustice.
With skepticism, there are those same suspicions, concerns, and doubts, but you leave open the possibility that this time things can be different. This time, we will get it right and there will be real change. Skepticism is much more healthy than cynicism because people in power need to be challenged, policy proposals need a critical eye , pretty words are not to be trusted without real action backing them up. But ultimately, change can only happen if you truly believe it is possible. This is where my heart is today.
For the last 3 years, Gray Ducks has provided free fitness programs to some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable youth in the state. We have taught yoga in juvenile correctional facilities, domestic abuse shelters, low income public housing ,and some of our poorest communities. We have facilitated recreational sports programs such as kickball, volleyball, dodgeball, and so on for at-risk youth as a means to develop social skills, self-esteem, and positive mindsets towards health and wellness in these kids. During the last 3 years, we have also worked with the some of the populations that are most vulnerable to police violence.
I have witnessed firsthand the fear and distrust that these kids feel as police cars drive by. Hearing the yells of "popo" and witnessing kids as young as 6 shut down in fear is a palpable and unsettling sight. I have also participated in activities for community engagement with police where I have seen the eagerness and sincerity of certain police officers to engage positively and show love to the people they serve. Ultimately though, I know that at some point, some of the kids that I have worked with over the last 3 years will experience some form of violence at the hands of a police officer. This breaks my heart.
A common refrain in our current national discourse on police violence is that it is a public health issue for black people and this is a hard argument to dispute. For an organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness for the most vulnerable people in our community, Gray Ducks would be remiss to not include the issue of police violence under our mission. Over the next few months we will be working hard to roll out a series of programs to address police violence and strengthen our community. We will include social justice, racial inequality, and systemic racism as part of a holistic approach to community health. Our previous tagline was "Healthy Kids for Healthy Communities" and I now believe that healthy communities will provide for healthy kids.
We can not sub-come to the cynicism that change is not possible. Real change starts with the belief in the possible. and that this time will be different. This is what I am seeing in the streets today and in the voices of our community and for once the inevitability of futility does not feel like an absolute. This is a brave new world and Gray Ducks hopes to play our part in it.
R. Scott Hauschild
Executive Director of Gray Ducks
director@grayducks.org