#Repost @irismcalpin with @get_repost ・・・ I am not a good person. I am a person who is equally capable of doing good and causing harm. Even with the best of intentions, my actions can have an unintended negative impact, and focusing on intention rather than impact is dangerous. When our identity becomes wrapped up in being a “good” or “bad” person, we begin to see everything we do through that lens. We become masterful at explaining why what we did was “good” (or “bad”), regardless of impact. We shroud ourselves with our intentions, and the results can be quite devastating. When I was in high school I picked up a book called The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang. It is probably the most impactful book I have ever read. It details how “good,” “normal,” everyday Japanese people participated in the brutal mass slaughter of Chinese in 1937-1938. It was painful to read, but it imprinted on me that human cruelty is not “out there” being committed by “monsters.” It is within us, right here, committed by human beings. This is vitally important to recognize. When we externalize the issue, and reduce bad actors to “monsters” we let ourselves off the hook. We get to pretend that we’re good, and innocent. We get to ignore the ways we’re complicit in the perpetuation of harm. With what’s happening right now, if you’re white, you’re complicit. I’m complicit. Racism isn’t out there, it’s in here. We’ve all internalized it. It’s woven into the fabric of our culture, and until we deeply and fully acknowledge our role, and take conscious action to remove it from our minds, bodies and hearts, it stays. This is hard work, it’s painful work, and it’s necessary work. I hope you’ll join me in it. . . . #intentions #goodintentions #impact #theroadtohellispavedwithgoodintentions #racism #innerwork #decolonize #dothework #mentalhealth #wakeup #privilege #genocide #history #educateyourself #bethechange #checkyourprivilege #checkyourself https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYu1HfliT4/?igshid=1f8ihlyq94vsr