If we want to unite movements and build a new vision for our society—and the economy that enables it—we have to understand that, according to our guest Dr. Andre Perry from the Brookings Institution, current events are reflecting the very soul of our country. We must have the courage to look into the mirror to see the long and unquestionable history of inequality and racism built into our system’s very architecture.
Glossing over these realities will not get us to something better. We cannot skip over the step of reckoning with our past—and the ways in which this past still haunts us today. This process of reflection is, in fact, the necessary precursor to a brighter future.
While we long for some solid ground—some certainty—if we can muster the courage to open our eyes wide and look into that mirror, we will see not only an ugly past and present of racist policies, but also the beautiful potential for a functioning Democracy, an accessible American Dream, and a more perfect union. What we will also see is hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of civic siblings, with their eyes wide open, embodying the collective courage to dream of and work towards enduring equity.
This is the family we all need to lean into right now. Liberty and justice for all—this is the vision we need to be marching towards.
And thanks to Randy Strickland from Cornerstone Capital, you’ll leave this episode with tangible steps you can take today—right now—to start walking this path.
Learn more by subscribing to our Courage Collective e-letter at www.decadeofcourage.com.