A lifetime
Of microaggressions
Backstabbing, negative glances, racial slurs, undermining
Like you, I have experienced all of the behaviours on the Six Stages, Prejudice Racism Spectrum
Not getting the recognition or the support you need
Everything being escalated, disproportionate treatment
And when you complain being told you’re not good enough, it’s a performance issue.
You are a performance issue!
The silence is deafening the bystanders add to the pain and to your suffering
No one speaks up, silence and isolation become your companion
Bystanders no allies
Nothing but toxic workplaces
All, you can do is watch and wonder why me?
Why the hate why the intolerance of my difference
A million Little cuts
A million little cuts do not define me. But each cut leaves a scar
Takes its toll on your mental health
And tries to diminish who you are
Chipping away and eroding your identity and self esteem (like the sea splashing and eroding rocks)
Plays on your mind always a constant reminder of the pain, the anguish and the humiliation
The time, times when they put you down, they made up stories about you
All because deep down they knew you were better than them and could achieve more.
But don’t let them win
I didn’t then and you mustn’t now
A cut is just that, a cut
You determine the extent of the scar, the pain
You determine how deep it goes and how long you allow it to remind you of that day, those days
Hold you head up high and rise
A million little cuts do not define you.
Get up, dust yourself off
And live to navigate another day.
Sure enough somewhere along the path you’ll meet another, others
Intent on putting you down
Stopping you rising, stopping you being the best that you can.
Wearing masks of tolerance they will hide behind these
Professing to be at Stage +4 or +5 of the Six Stages Framework
But often only being at Stages +1 or +2
Worse still some will be on the negative axis of the Six Stages Framework
Spiralling down into more negative, extreme and dangerous thinking and behaviours.
They will use you, use your ideas manipulate and exploit you
Reminding you of that day, of those days of a million little cuts
Every now and again something happens and reminds you of what you have experienced, reminds you how far you have come
You are wiser now; you’re braver now, you are more resilient. You are the best that you can be.
You have learnt you are not alone and you can draw on the support of others who have first hand experience of what you are going through
Those little cuts were, are painful at the time and their memory can still torment you
But you can survive them.
Those little cuts, scars have added to who you are.
They have made, can make you stronger
You have curved your own way, your own new path, you do not need them
Created new beginnings and new opportunities that they cannot touch.
You are more resilient. You’re stronger now than you have ever been
Hold your head up high and continue to rise.
But don’t forget the lessons that those million little cuts bring.
You learn to spot the signs and symptoms of haters, those who discriminate.
You learn to speak up and with others you challenge and navigate discrimination and racism
Joining together our energy forms a resounding wall of protection, shouting No
No to hate
No to discrimination
No to Racism in all its forms
No to Caves of privilege and intolerance
No to masks of tolerance
But,
Yes to Allyship
Yes to workplaces that recognise every individual
Yes to Inclusive leaders who do not wear masks of tolerance
But Promote acceptance belonging and well-being
Yes to communities and schools that are not divided because of differences
Yes to world peace and harmony
To Building Bridges of Empathy and reconciliation
Yes! Yes! Yes!
www.sixstagesframework.com
https://x.com/i/status/1820773661315354725
References cited above in article.
1. Summary of Six Stages Framework- see below
2.If Racism was a virus -available for sale
3. The Bias Impact Tree- see resources and blogs
4. Eliminating masks of tolerance – see blog and on HRzone.
Become a change maker in fighting workplace discrimination
5. 10 steps for calling out racism (see resources)
Key concepts underpinning the Six Stages Framework are:
– The Prejudice Racism Spectrum
– Building Bridges of Empathy
– Coming out of Caves of Privilege
Come and learn more about the Prejudice Racism Spectrum.
Check out my free seminars on Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-six-stages-framework-bridges-of-empathy-467339
Check out my book:
The stages are designed to support individuals and organisations to identify where they are in terms of their awareness of understanding and responding to racism. It is important that as a society we appreciate that we all at different stages in our journey towards understanding and dealing with racism and promoting a more equitable society which does not discriminate according to one’s race, colour and/or appearance.
1. SUMMARY OF THE SIX STAGES of Understanding and Dealing with Racism (+ve and -ve axis) are as follows:
Stage – 6: Extremists/leadership
Strong racist views and work to champion them to others and recruit others to join them.
Stage – 5: Entrenched views and behaviours
Exhibit strong racist views and enjoy sharing them with others.
Stage – 4: Anger and blaming of ethnic minorities
Likely to attack and reject the views of those who are different. Extreme ways of thinking and behaving.
Stage – 3: Attacking and rejecting
Resenting time spent on race, display of outrage whilst projecting one’s own racism onto others
Stage – 2: Dismissive and avoidant
Dismissive of issues of race, pretending that racial and social injustice do not exist
Stage – 1: Unaware, silence and denial
Lack of awareness, Ignorance, oblivious, silence and denial
Stage + 1: Unaware, silence and denial
Lack of awareness, Ignorance, oblivious, silence and denial
Stage + 2: Dismissive and avoidant
Dismissive of issues of race, pretending that racial and social injustice do not exist
Stage + 3: Becoming aware of issues of race
Becoming more aware of differences and racism, and questioning. Recognise inequity and racism but do not understand why or what they can do about it.
Stage + 4: Open to learning
Open to learning and having meaningful conversations- challenging one’s perceptions
Stage + 5: Ability to see the bigger picture
Ability to reflect and genuinely engage. Starting to see the bigger picture around race- paradigm shift
Stage + 6: Leadership qualities
Ability to take on a leadership role in promoting racial equity and social justice. Joining with others for the greater good and for the sake of Humanity
