Diversity Printable (and what I did this week)

By Kate Riley June 5, 2020

I’ve spent a lot of time in silence this week, most of it just listening because I wanted to understand what was happening with the Black Lives Matter movement. The thing I recognized is that underneath all the anger and the protesting is real pain, the collective pain the black community has felt not just for decades, but generations.

So I listened a lot and I learned so much. I watched how so many people, including me, are supporting black lives and black stories in different ways: from protests to donations to educating themselves and also sharing and promoting black stories and voices. I was encouraged by the mass efforts to pause and reflect and listen and absorb the powerful experiences and feelings felt by the black community.

I’m an advocate for sitting with uncomfortable topics and facing and acknowledging pain. I try to practice that in my life and it’s been especially relevant this week. If painful experiences are swept under the rug or ignored or dismissed, that pain festers and it never goes away until you shine a spotlight on it and bring it out in the open. Pain can only be healed when it’s seen and validated and addressed, and once that happens, the healing begins. We will only be able to fix this problem when we face it, when we sit with their stories and feel real empathy. If we return to love, it will see us through.

Sometimes we just don’t know what to say so we can only default to “I’m so so sorry you’ve had this experience. I’m listening, I hear you.” But what we can do moving forward is we can absorb their story, reflect on it, and resolve to be better. “When you know better, you do better” is what Maya Angelou taught us.

I woke up early this morning because I just couldn’t sleep and and felt like painting, so I created a black hand holding a bundle of flowers.

And as I painted I kept thinking about how racism is something that’s taught and how the home is the first place kids will learn about it, so it’s important when you have children to take any opportunity to speak out against racism early and often. Then I thought about another favorite Maya quote that sums up how I feel about the human race. “We should all know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” This is such a beautiful summary of the fact that we’re all part of one race which is the human race. All equal, all valuable.

So I turned my hand/bouquet painting into a printable, one you’re welcome to display in your home, should you choose to.

 

If you’d like to print it or frame it or tape it to your fridge, the free printable links are below:

maya angelou on diversity – 11×14” printable

maya angelou on diversity – 8×10’ printable

 

I think of it as a reminder to family, friends, and anyone who enters my home that they should know how I feel about all people. We are equal and we are all one.

I will resume regular content next week and I have a new DIY project to share. :)

15 comments

  1. That is just lovely all around. Well said and beautiful printable. Thank you for all you do.

  2. Beautiful sentiment. It would be great if you could recommend some organizations that inspire you, so for those who download the printable and are able to donate can do so. A small way to keep the momentum going. :)

    • thank you Mimi, I do to, she is one of the best souls to have ever lived! her words are powerful.

  3. I am so sorry that you have been sucked in by all the hatred that is created by the media and and the left! Our country had such an opportunity to draw together under President Obama. He drove it apart. I am so saddened that you are buying into the lies that it is okay to kill others and destroy property because you are being told that life is not fair. I will be leaving your website as I believe that someone has to stand up for the truth about what a great opportunity it is to live in the United States!!! Good Bye

    • I don’t believe in supporting riots or looters or physically attacking anyone but I believe we can all still listen to the voices of people in the black community, hear their stories, and express empathy.

  4. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and art. Your words really speak from the heart. I feel the same as you and am thankful that you are making the world a better place by your actions and caring. I will be honored to follow your thoughts and re print your beautiful work of art for my home. Wishing you all the best…Christina

  5. This is a beautiful painting. And thank you for not staying silent on your blog and pretending like this isn’t happening.

  6. Did you learn about the black lives gunned down every weekend Chicago and other urban Democrat run cities by other black people? And the generation of black babies aborted by sacred cow Planned Parenthood, founded by a racist, eugenicist Margaret Sanger? How sad that you’ve been inspired to bold action like painting a black hand to honor a dead porn star, felon who held a gun to a pregnant black woman’s belly. Great choice.

  7. We can no longer ignore 400 years of institutionalized racism that is our history. America can and should be better than this. People of privilege speaking up and being willing to learn and grow can make the change. Thanks Kate for being one!
    Kay

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