Tales from the Field: Putting Compassion Into Action

In July 2016, I sat on my toy-covered living room floor with my then 18-month-old son as my television screen displayed photos of two Black men who had recently been shot and killed by police. I listened intently as various media pundits spoke over one another about video evidence, police protocols, mental health, and a slew of other viewpoints offered to provide context and, in some cases, justification, to the tragedies. As my son played near me, I took in his round cheeks, his sturdy little legs, and his rich, brown skin that was so similar to that of the victims on my TV. Abruptly, my mind flashed forward 17 years to when he would no longer be a cute baby with thigh rolls, but a full-grown Black man. I thought of the trending hashtags, #altonsterling and #philandocastile, and my heart grieved for their mothers and all mothers of Black sons. In hindsight, I now recognize this was the moment when the veil of my white privilege was pulled aside.