A Love Letter to haters From Dallas Justice Now

“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.”

(James Baldwin)

It is strange to be hated by strangers. And yet, only strangers would have reason to hate us. These strangers hide behind twitter, DM and email. Are they the ones that won’t answer the door when we knock? But later lash out? Maybe. But our guess is the real haters of our organization, are the ones who do not, nor do they want to, know us at all… Because if they did, they would have to admit that they have no reason to hate us, other than their own pain from clinging to an outdated system that harms everyone.

“They hate because they fear, and they fear because they feel that the deepest feelings of their lives are being assaulted and outraged. And they do not know why; they are powerless pawns in a blind play of social forces.”

(Richard Wright)

It is confusing at times to be focused on change, seeking educational equality, to lessen the wealth gap, to offer more opportunity and reparation to BIPOC and communities who have struggled and suffered for generations and then receive so much hate. That these goals could be misconstrued as an attack on others, on us hating others, is fear-based ignorance. We simply have asked for conversation, commitment and action. We expect some derision and conflict, because we know are stepping into conscious power in this blind play of social forces. But is still causes a pause now and then in our work to reflect on the unnecessary negativity.

“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.”

(Maya Angelou)

The truth is, we do not hate anyone. Not a single one of those who spend precious resources and energies trying to troll and hate on us. There are systems we hate, actions we hate, ideologies we hate. But people, that is not why we are here. We are here because we hope that people can change, that people can heal and develop a better awareness of the system and how to repair the harm it has done. If you have time to hate us, then you might have privilege to unpack. And while you are either seething in your own fear and pain or perhaps beginning to examine your prejudices, we will still be here, working to solve the problems that plague our city.