200604 - Soapbox Thursday
My mantra this week, “I don’t know what I don’t know, but I’m willing and determined to learn.”
As a business owner, I feel I need to speak about the current situation in America after the tragic death of George Floyd. The “Black Lives Matter” movement is working towards combating violence, seeking life quality equity, and driving legislation that will protect African American lives. All of this stems from a long standing systemic racism in this country that I, as a white privileged female, am a part of, not by choice but by birth due to the color of my skin. Growing up in a predominantly white town in Kansas and now settling in Fort Collins, where white is again the significant undeniable majority, I want to do better. But I also admit as a human, I struggle. I want to be more proactive and more aggressive as an ally of the Black Lives Matter movement. Here are the things that I’m determined both as an individual and as a business owner to commit myself to:
1) First and foremost, Choice City CrossFit has been and will always have the goal to be a safe space for all regardless of race/religious/sex/age/gender/sexual orientation/etc. We want to continue fostering an environment where everyone knows that no matter who they are, they are loved, valued, and cared about in this fitness community we’ve established. We are devoted to our inclusive policies and will continue to do so!
2) I and my coaches will humble ourselves to the learning process. We are in no way perfect and not everything we do or say will be the “right” thing, but we are incredibly willing and eager to change for the better. This requires an open dialogue from all. We want to have the tough conversations and listen so that all voices are heard and learned from. I saw a post yesterday that said… “Thank you. I’ll accept that education.” We don’t always need to respond, sometimes we will just absorb and let it sink in to alter our perceptions in a positive direction. Other times, the uncomfortable interactions may lead to new ways of speaking, new policies in the facility, or new directions of philanthropic efforts. Whether it is a two sided conversation or just being an open listening ear, we are ready to learn.
3) Seeking out resources and educating ourselves is key. There’s so much out there to consume right now and it’s important to dive in. Each piece of literature, podcast, or documentary leads us to be able to know more about the deep rooted suffering of the black experience in America. While we, as white people, cannot relate to the racism and daily struggles, we can learn to better empathize and take action against the systematic issues that keep the African American community suppressed.
Here’s resources from Coach Britt provided by CSU. I intended to read these and seek out more to keep myself and my mind moving in the right direction:
Waking Up White by Debbie Irving - an excellent starting point
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson - less than 200 pages and excellent for historical context
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo - 154 pages, short but very impactful
Lastly, The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a piece published in The Atlantic which is also an excellent way to get some historical context without reading a whole book.
Shareable Anti-Racist Resources - "This anti-racist resource guide was crafted amidst the anger of the latest black body turned hashtag #AhmaudArbery. It is consistently being updated to address the current climate of our country and the personal growth needed to sustain this life-long journey."
RESOURCES & TOOLS REGARDING RACISM & ANTI/BLACKNESS & How to be a Better Ally - "An allyship starter pack."
Anti-Racsm for Beginners + White People - "Diving into the world of anti-racism for the first time can be confronting. It may feel challenging to understand your place and where to begin with educating yourself. Luckily, there are endless resources online to help you learn about anti-racism work, dismantle the unconscious biases that exist within yourself, and take action to create a more just society."
Anti-Racism Resources - "This document is intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work. If you haven’t engaged in anti-racism work in the past, start now. Feel free to circulate this document on social media and with your friends, family, and colleagues."
In conclusion, I believe that there’s a lot of people out there with the best intentions and I think there’s still too many people that don’t. I’d like to think that anyone who walks through our doors at Choice City CrossFit wants the best for everyone in our community regardless of their race. We are committed to loving all people and fostering a community that values all human life. If you want to have a conversation with me, please do! If you want to provide feedback, please do! If you want to help educate or send me more resources, please do! I will share it with my coaches as we continue this learning process and providing the most safe space for people to improve their health no matter what the color of their skin is as well as continue to develop ourselves as individuals to do better.
#BlackLivesMatter
QOTD - Favorite summer drink?
WARM UP - :20 rest between each set
300m Row/200m Row/100m Row
Then… 2 Rounds
10 Air Squats
5 Heel Elevated Front Rack Hold with Press Out (each side)
5 Push Press (each side)
MOBILIZE - Banded Foam Roller Ankle Smash
Lat Roll Out
Front Rack Stretch
COACH PREP - Review Movements
2 Rounds
4 Snatches
2 Thrusters (each side)
WOD -
(A: Competitor) EMOM 12:
M1 - 12 Alt. DB Snatches 50/40
M2 - 8 Single Arm DB Thrusters (4 each side)
M3 - 200m/150m Row
Then…
1 Round FOR TIME
(B: Performance) EMOM 12:
M1 - 12 Alt. DB Snatches 45/35
M2 - 8 Single Arm DB Thrusters (4 each side)
M3 - 200m/150m Row
Then…
1 Round FOR TIME
(C: Fitness) EMOM 12:
M1 - 12 Alt. DB Snatches 35/25
M2 - 8 Single Arm DB Thrusters (4 each side)
M3 - 150m/100m Row
Then…
1 Round FOR TIME