Every person’s intimate experience with racism is personal. There are stories of many good, loving people who did not deserve to be mistreated. We will never fully understand the experiences of those who endured slavery and the horrific abuses during that period, as well as the Civil Rights era. I think back to the many moments in the early 90s and early 2000s when obvious, blatant, racist gestures toward me and non-whites were at an all-time high. At that time, those moments wounded me, making me feel small and unwelcome. This period was also marked by significant sexual harassment and misogyny, yet it shaped me into a woman who eventually overcame.
If we are honest, as I often tell those who will listen, we all have a little racism in us. We need transparent, logical individuals to test our thoughts, as I have done with many. I have confronted the attitudes of those who believe there is no racism in them at all, simply because they are not white. I have asked them about their feelings and attitudes toward customer service representatives who take our calls but cannot speak English well. I have challenged their assumptions that every Hispanic-looking person eats tacos, rice, and beans each day, and that Latinos appreciate being called "Latinx"—a term intended to erase God-given gender assignments.
I have directed individuals to evaluate the term "Karen" and its significant subtext. It is a form of reverse racism. Do we want to be part of healing this land? Then it starts with us individually, regardless of our race. For the logical and responsible citizen, we do not get to opt out of facing the racism and discrimination in our own hearts while condemning the ones we believe are blatantly racist. Clearly, this message will resonate with the reasonable, who understand that we truly live in the best country in the world.
Now more than ever, Americans have access to opportunities like never before, and the doors continue to open. As a Latina myself, who dropped out of school with only an eighth-grade education, became a teen mom, lived an out-of-control life, and later regained my losses, I can tell you that racism or not, I am not held back. You, myself, and others have no barriers that cannot be overcome. I have had the privilege, as every other American, to pursue education, business, and greater opportunities.
Did it cost money to pursue a higher education, all the way to a master’s degree? Yes. And that does not make it present-day institutional racism. Was the education process intense? Absolutely, but I made my own way by studying harder than others, and the reward was in my determination. No one has stopped me from starting my podcast show, interviewing elected officials, and those running for office. Nothing has gotten in my way of visiting third-world countries, providing a library for a third-world nation, and more.
Today, it is not racism that holds back non-white Americans. It is the idea that there still exists an institutional barrier, an all-encompassing hurdle that has the power to keep us from moving forward. Ideas so credulous, this becomes a disservice and dishonor to our older generations. It is odious to those who endured the violent and inhumane acts of personal, generational, institutional, and systemic racism.
Now is the time to rise up and be part of bringing out the best in America, but we must first bring the best out in ourselves.
Teresa G. Lusk
About Teresa Lusk
Teresa Garza Lusk is a Latina Conservative Political Commentator, TV Host, Founder of ExecYou Coach and ExecYou Productions, and Pastor. As the host of The Teresa Lusk Show, she offers insightful commentary on politics, faith, business, and family, delivering empowering perspectives grounded in conservative values.
With a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling and as a Doctoral student in Law & Public Policy, Teresa brings both academic excellence and practical experience to her work. She is dedicated to mentoring individuals and helping them navigate the complexities of life and leadership with purpose and resilience. Learn more at teresaluskshow.com or contact her at 214-552-6470 or teresagarzalusk@gmail.com.
#Education #SocialJustice #Racism #Equality #Diversity #Inclusion #CivilRights #LGBTQ+ #Opportunity #InstitutionalRacism #PersonalGrowth #AmericanDream
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