Letter: Recent racist incidents at North Dakota sporting events are a call to action – InForum
It has been very difficult to witness the explicit racist acts in communities across our state against and by children over the past few weeks. When did we start teaching our kids to show hate before showing love? How many times have our children seen or heard racist acts modeled to feel validated enough to yell at them at crowded sporting events, without caring about the punishment for their actions or the impact their words and actions have on other people? Why don’t the adults who are in control or in power protect and advocate for all children? And finally, where do we go from here?
My name is Kathy Anderson. I’m a pediatrician, Past President of the North Dakota American Academy of Pediatrics, Regional Champion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the American Academy of Pediatrics, mother, community member, and US citizen.
As a community member, I am disappointed with the lack of action and leadership that adults are taking to these sporting events.
As a mother, I am both upset by the experience that has had to go through of the children being directly attacked and their parents witnessing it. I’m also saddened to realize that I’m raising my own children in a community and state that doesn’t value them enough to make me advocate for their safety.
As a citizen, I am disheartened to hear that this week (and after these racist acts took place at sporting events) the North Dakota Senate passed Law 2247, which directly violates a variety of evidence and recommendations in the statement of policy referenced below, which a Need for education about the systems and practices that continue to support racism.
As a pediatrician, I am committed to providing you with the evidence that supports best practice for children’s overall health and well-being. I am confident that now that teachers and school officials, lawmakers and community members are made aware of this evidence, we can act quickly to ensure and protect the health and safety of every child in our state.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the professional organization of more than 67,000 professionals in child and adolescent health and well-being worldwide, issued a policy statement in the summer of 2019,
“The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health”, which presents the overwhelming body of evidence that racism has negative effects on child and adolescent health and evidence-based recommendations for good practice to reduce racism. Racism is a social determinant of health. It is our responsibility as adults in this state to work together to ensure that all children have a safe and healthy environment in which to thrive.
Nelson Mandela said: “No one is born to hate another person because of the color of their skin, their race or their religion. Men must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can learn to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Thirty years later and thousands of miles away, this quote can still inspire healing and call us to action!
dr Kathy Anderson lives in Bismarck.
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