IT’S UNANIMOUS

A few weeks ago while I was trying to decide whether or not to take on some new challenges in life, a White male colleague upon meeting me said, "I didn't know this, but you're the right color." Those of you who know my lineage know that Ms. Joe was speaking to me at that moment and so was her daddy, Johnny. I amazingly enough refrained from my David Letterman top ten responses:

10) I know right!

9) But you're not and I'll try not to hold it against you,

8) Until you said that I wasn't sure,

7) Oh this I've had this awhile,

6) MJ's doc wasn't available for me to do something different,

5) It will be a little different after vacation,

4) do a little turn & say.. do you like it?

3) people pay trying to get a little,

2) that's some R.B.S.,

1) G-d seemed to think so

After having decided to take on these new challenges and roles, last week I had the pleasure of basically being told the same thing, this time by a Black man, when he said, "…They're getting smarter, they sent the right one."

While relaying the series of events to my co-workers and friends, one replied at least it's unanimous. I've decided that the coworker is right. It is unanimous. I am the right one and the right color. It is important for the generations before me and after me to know someone who looks like them, cares enough about this issue to take the insults whether intentionally meant to slight or not, to be a part of a team searching for a solution to something that affects my community disproportionately. I am certainly the right one because I am not going to allow anything I perceive to be unethical or potentially harmful to happen in my community and offered up as research and not have a "Call to Arms." They definitely picked the right one so those who come behind and trying to figure out what they can do to help, they have a sister in the struggle who can and will encourage and teach them the skills to come up with their own research questions and solutions. And when in doubt, link them to others who are also willing to join the cause.

It is unanimous. I am the right color and the right one. I will continue to do this work until it is over! But I will let you in on a little secret. I've always known I was the right color and the right one, they're just getting it.