By Angela Pearce on July 16, 2020

Where do we go from here?

Today as we look around and see how our lives have transpired, some people are not happy. We feel the stresses and strains of life, those that we never thought were possible. Most people have become financially deprived, not by choice, or because they were looking for better opportunities or wanted to start their own business. Not because they did not love their current job or situation. We were forced in financial and economic turmoil, not because our bosses felt that we were not team players, were not the right fit, or because we did not get along with colleagues. Bosses and companies from various entities alike were forced to make the toughest decisions in their lives, even when they had the best leaders, the best staff, team players, family-oriented businesses, and people who got the job done. COVID tied their hands to the point that they could hang on any longer. Yes, various companies are still fully operational (e.g., hospitals and medical facilities, pharmacies, supermarkets, some department stores that supply necessities and essentials). States have started to open nonessential businesses, whereby to reduce the financial stresses of people not knowing where their next meal is coming from or how they are going to pay their rent/mortgages and utilities. Not only are we all in a financial whirlwind, a crisis, a downward spiral, but we are too in a fight for Equality battle worldwide. Even though we did not put ourselves in this situation, we are the only persons that could get ourselves out, so the question that we all should be asking ourselves at this very moment is what can we do to make the situation better for the world we live in, to return to come kind of normalcy, as this unprecedented showstopper is not a preponderance of a select few, the world as a whole is significantly impacted simultaneously. It will take the world as a whole, meaning all persons from all backgrounds (e.g., race, cultural, socioeconomic, gender, age, etc.) to take responsibility to fight the war of this ghostly adversary, restricting human transferability and mutating force.  

What can we do to make the situation better for the world we live in?

It is naturalistic and innate for humans to want to socialize themselves. But what happens when the world faces crises that will limit the availability to socialize, a crisis like the one that we face today, The Coronavirus, a pandemic that has infected millions of humans and killed over a hundred thousand. A ghostly virus that has no plans to deter or subside anytime soon, we as humans have allowed it to feed on our flesh, allowing it to rapidly and silently mutate and transfer from person to person. This gravely and incurable germ continues to fight for survival while most of us, as humans, have let our guards down and refuse to draw our weapons, face masks. Face masks are the only weapon that has been proved to be reliable thus far, as no medications have been deemed successfully to combat this virus and to stop is spreading. Frequent handwashing, using hand sanitizers, is part of this cleaning system, but when people are out and about, most don’t think about washing their hands. We, as humans, people all around the world, not just Americans, need to start abiding by social rules and practice social distancing, wearing masks or other face covering.

Yes, to most, they may be uncomfortable, but just imagine how many lives you could save, even your own and loved ones. I said it before, and I will repeat it. No, we did not get ourselves into this message, but it is going to take a worldly army of humane citizens to get us out of this mess. It is not going to happen overnight, not in the next week or month, but we have to look for the light at the end of the tunnel; otherwise, we will continue to live in darkness and fear. I don’t have the answers. However, it seems that some of the persons that we rely on for leadership haven’t a clue either. If we take a moment to ask ourselves the germane question of what it is that I can do to make the world better, even if you answer is to simply stay put and restrict your outings and to wear your masks when you do go out, you are providing an excellent service to the world. It’s the little and most simple things that count. If you have extra masks and see or know people who don’t have one or cannot afford one, give them face coverings. We all have to do the right things. Otherwise, we’re all screwed, and just because you may have been previously infected with COVID, studies have shown that that does not guarantee that you will not become infected a second time. 

Another thing that we can do, if we have to go out for essentials, is to say “thank you” tor those persons who are readily exposed day in and day out, just to make sure that what we seek is to our avail.  

How did we get here? 

Most people are still pointing the fingers of how we got here. Some blame China. Others blame the UK. Does it really matter? What should matter is, we are here, Corona is here, and from the looks of it, it is not going anywhere, anytime soon. Instead of playing the blame game, we as humans must take action. We must all be our own leaders in our own right to fight a battle that we know we can win. As it states in Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” Who’s in charge here? Us or COVID? Are we going to sit back and allow the minuscule particles to kill us and those that we love continually? Are really going to sit on our hand and be silenced. Yes, we are all wearing masks these days, but that does not stop us from being heard. That does not stop us from taking necessary actions and taking precautionary measures. We need to stop trying to figure out how we got here and figure out the dexterities of how we are going to get out of this mess. This is not about emotions, egos, who is right and who is wrong; it is about life sustainability, approachability to civilization, and humanity. 

Will we ever be able to turn this off?

The only way this thing is going away is if we let it kill itself off and stop being its enabler. We must not allow this virus to continue its course of action through human nurturing. Aren’t you tired of seeing people die, even if they are unfamiliar or dissimilar to you? Are you tired of social anxiety or being anxious in general? We are all tired of being stressed, depressed, and being limited by the inability to travel and take vacations? Some people have used their vehicle as escapism, whereby traveling to their neighboring states. Some people have put on a brave face to air travel, some not knowing what they may be getting themselves into. People are engaging in political rallies and protests. To beat the heat some people are going to beaches and have pool parties. For socialization, bar and pub attendances rose, but not necessarily restaurants.

Technology has been a lifeline for most. It has been our primary tool for socialization, learning, pedagogical instructions, social networking, collaboration, to reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation, and to contribute to life satisfaction, and overall physical and psychological well-being. We couldn’t imagine life without technology before this pandemic, as it has become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives and activities. So, could you just imagine what life would be like now in the midst of this crisis? Yeah, we are tired of staring at their computer and phone screens? But, more importantly, we are tired of having our life excursions limited to localities and stay-cations? We can all concur that this was a major screw-up that got out of hand with no off switch or antidote. This is not something that we can just press the reset button on or turn the power off altogether. This is something that is designed to stay on for its entire existence and to acquire its strength from any persons it comes into contact with. The only turn off switch is to heavily rely on scientists and their scramble to find a cure or vaccine. However, in the meantime, we all can act humane and wear our masks. We can continue to practice social distancing and gathering restrictions, wash our hands, and ultimately stay away from unforeseeable and intangible harm. We will find the off switch, one way or another. We must continue to support our front-liners and continue to pray that they [and all people] remain under the covenant of God. We must pray that all persons that seek to protect us and not judge us are also protected and that we show gratitude and respect.

When are things going to go back to normal, or are they?

Of course, we will return to days of normalcy, but with novel and evolutionary perspectives, a new take on life, love, and living. This is a day in time where people are starting to sift through their lives, gaining new connections while losing others. They [We] are reevaluating their meaning of life and taking the necessary actions to come out of this pandemic stronger. Yes, we are in a financial and economic crisis, but we will all have developed a new game plan. It does seem like 2020 is a year of the reckoning, and maybe it is. Maybe God pressed the reset button on the life of all people to prove a point. You can draw your own conclusion of what point that is. When examining things from a personal perspective, things that are happening in the world, are so many things that people have turned a blind eye to. Too many people in the world have continually engaged in bystander’s effects. Too many people have not fought for what they believed in because they harnessed fears of what others would think of them. Too often, people were too petrified to step out of their comfort zone, reach their full potential, and become a self-actualized individual. Too often, people have stood by and watched the life be snatched out of another person for no rhyme or reason. By people being stuck at home and in front of the televisions and subscribers to social networking sites, people were forced to have a wakeup call. They couldn’t sit or stand around and go on about their lives anymore, because they were forced to stand there and take it. To see the unjust, the inequalities, the lack of opportunities, the disparagement among marginalized and impoverished. Those who are seen as a threat and disproportionately human to so many.  

We will achieve normalcy again. But, do we want to go back the way things were, being the same person we were going into this pandemic. Hopefully, not. Hopefully, we will come out stronger, wiser, compassionate, harmonious, undivided, and forever prepared. Most importantly, we must pray that we come out on the life side of this pandemic. We must never dismiss our past. It is a progression tool to use in tandem with our history, present, and future assessments. Some people need to see firsthand their progress because it becomes a testimony of time. Coming out of this pandemic is going to be a testimony for millions of people worldwide. People will disclose to others, how they contracted the virus, but used their immunity defenses to reign champ. This virus has not only affected those contaminated with its plague, but it has affected people of all backgrounds worldwide. Everyone has felt the impact by not only the Corona, but by Black Lives Matter, as it has forced most people to change their view on life, love, and health. It has afforded people the opportunity to change how they do and approach life and others. These current situations have changed us all, some for better, while others for worse. Nonetheless, we will continue to move forward and wait to see the new days to come that are plague-free and to show off our new self so the whole world can see. 

Angela P – Doctor2B

Follow me on linked in https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-pearce-755a12174/

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmWTObUHB8c

Have you ever taken the time to reflect on your life, you current living situation and said to yourself this is not me or this is not where I should be. Well I have. Tomorrow, I will be one year older than I was the day before and it seems that nothing in my life and change in a matter or 5 years and it still remains the same. Does that mean that became stuck? Does that mean that I have dug myself into a hole that I cannot get out of? Not necessarily, because we put ourselves in places where we feel the most comfortable, particularly when we lack the motivation, ability, or support to move forward to become a better person. We strive to be the better person that we can be, but how do we know when we reach that point? How do we know when or if we have reached our actual self? Do we feel different? Does it means we feel lighter, less burdensome, more dignified? Is setting goals a way to reach out inner self? Is our actions a predetermining method to release out inhibitions. How do, better yet, how will we ever know that we have reached out full potential when life continually evolve and throw us curve ball, but strip away our bat.

In life we continue to change and channel ourselves. We continue to engage in crab-based interactions, as when we see one person overcoming their barriers we always find ways to pull them back down to that level. What is you were that crab that almost made it out of the barrel but then another crab came and striped that opportunity. Will you continue to shuffle you way around or will you try a different escape route? Will you be that crab that allows another crab to stand on your back, whereby making his or her escapism much more easier and effortless? Or will you be that crab that pulls him or her down just because they did the same to you?

Today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life, I dare you to challenge yourself. I dare you to challenge your inner strength even in the midst of a pandemic. Will you be the same person you were going in, coming out? Or will you be a better person coming out than when you went in. You are alive and well. You have beat the odd. You have not succumb to what Rona-Rona set in your path. You have shoved her aside, engaged in social distancing, masking wearing, frequent hand washing, and other safe and secure practices.

What have you done today that you did not do yesterday to ensure that you are a better person, starts right here right now. You have to learn to become the master of yourself. You have to learn to be self-directed, self-disciplined, self-determined, and self-motivated, as no one in this world can do things for you in the way that you can. You know yourself better than anyone. You know your strength and your weakness. You know what measures you have to take to strengthen your weaknesses, even if it means tapping into all of your available resources. Be that mastermind that you crave. Be that better person. Be more optimistic. Be what God created you to be. But most of all and most importantly, be yourself.

This is a Corona Challenge… Make a note to yourself today, of who you are today, who you were yesterday, and who you strive to be post-Rona-Rona. If you notice progression from one day to the next, then you have done yourself a good deed. If you don’t see any progress, then you have denied yourself progressive opportunities to become a better you. You have fallen into a fixed cognitive state that only you can pull yourself out of. Yes, life happens and people have various things to deal with, from environmental, marriage, economic, societal discourses, but when we stand firm within ourself and make the necessary moves to navigate turmoil, then we have become our own winner. We have become our own sideline cheerleader. We have become the person who will not take no for an answer answer and will continue to move forward knowing that all is not meant for you and what is meant for you will have its door wide open for you to walk through when you reach that point. The only question in this matter is, are you going to be ready when you get there and are you going to know to just enter without knocking.

The moral of the story is, NOW, more than ever if the time to be your true self. To be your actual self. To be your whole self. To be an expert of yourself. You are the only person on this world that knows you better than anyone. If someone do not know who you are or have a misconception or an inaccurate perceived notion, then tell them who you are without strife or agression. If that person cannot accept your true being, then they should not be in your life in the first place. Always be true to yourself and not fabricate, conform or be fictitous for no one or nothing. Be you, it will take you far.

Have you ever entered into a public setting where almost all individuals were barefaced, even in the midst a toxic pandemic that are killing people? Well, I can truly say that I have been this person who seems like I am the only person wearing a mask, only to look a mask-less people with a side and with disgust.

What do you think the reason behind this is?

1. People don’t care about the safety of themselves or others.
2. People feel as though they are susceptible to contract the virus and transmit it to others. Meaning they feel as though they walk around in an invisible shield or bubble.
3. People are followers. They see others who are not wearing masks, so they feel as though they don’t have to either.
4. People have been infected and feel as though they cannot get the virus a second time.
5. People have the virus, are asymptomatic, and intentionally go out into large crowd unprotected just so that they can transmit the virus to other people.
6. People are selfish, they lack compassion for others. They lack empathy for humanity, love, and life.
7. People are not feelings the pressures of having to wear a mask. Until there have been mandates and penalties set into place, where masks are required, people are not going to possess the common courteous, until they are forced to be law abiding citizens.

What can WE as a SOCIETY do about it?

1. We can personally practice safe measures by wearing our masks.
2. We can avoid coming into contact with others who are not wearing masks, thus practicing social distancing.
3. We can deny people access to our person.
4. Maskless persons can be denied access and service by franchises, restaurants, and stores. GO STARBUCKS on being Anti-Karen or Anti-Karenism (see link: https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/tips-for-san-diego-starbucks-barista-who-denied-service-to-customer-not-wearing-a-face-mask-nearing-100k/2356533/). NO MASK, NO SERVICE, regardless of their Anti-Masker disposition.
5. We can remind others to wear their mask by not opening out mouths. Here is how… Wear this t-shirt (https://teespring.com/stores/aupearce) when you go out in public to let people know that we, America, is not playing. This virus is serious, nondiscriminating, and now more than ever, is the time so stop behaving selfishly, unrationally, and uncooperatively.

On a Final Note

If we have disposable masks, we can hand them out in communities of people who cannot afford their own, as we have to strategically and methodologically protect our society regardless of which neighborhood you live in, skin color, profession, political ideology, or disabilities. If we all take one step forward to turn our world around for the better, meaning, wearing mask, social distancing, quarantining when necessary, we would allow the Coronavirus to kill itself instead of feeding and becoming strangers and livelier off the flesh of humans who is doings its leg work and phantomly passing it from person to person, espeically in the event that they are unknowingly aware that they have been directly infected.

For those who do go out into public, wearing a t-shirt that reminds people to wear this mask can act as a positive reinforcer, as they are not only protecting the lives of others, but they are protecting themselves as well.

We will see this through.

Angela

Recently the question was posed “Angela, can successfully bracket bias as a researcher?” Some would say without bias, less research would be conducted. Does it not drive passion.

This was my response.

This is a challenging, touchy, sensitive, and loaded question, and with all due respect to what is going on in the world today, it is significantly relevant. So, I will do my best to address the question being posed, and I do look forward to your feedback and guidance on how to combat biases and prejudicial dispositions in research and with holding a scholarly status. 

First and foremost, all biases are not harmful biases. We as humans have conscious and unconscious biases, and most of our daily encounters, personal and professional, are biasedly filled, intentionally, and unintentionally. Some individuals can successfully manage their attitudes and dispositions when engaging with people they consider different, as these persons have developed or shifted their views to be more diversified while blindly maneuvering through a blended, yet in various cases, unamalgamated world. Biased tensions have continued to mount in the world that an assortment of people is now standing up for the rights to end racial unjust and unrest. They wish to see a world that is accepting. We the People want to see a world where ALL people, particularly those of color or others, can walk down the street in their neighborhoods without being harassed or being considered as prey or having people look at us like we don’t belong. 

When people walk down the streets and peacefully protest, their motive is not to start any chaos or ruckus. They, all protestors in all countries, wants the world to know that people who feel as though they are advantaged has gone too far and that it took a video recording of a black man being murdered while in police custody most people in the world to get it mentally. Because most whites do not face similar challenges as black, they cannot necessarily relate, nor can they fathom the egregious trials, tribulations, and unrighteous interactions, that all Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Chinese, and other people face when it comes to the law, employment, housing, medical treatment, insurance, business ownership, loans, redlining, politics, and all other aspects of life. It is now that their blindfolds have been removed, and they can see the social injustices non-Caucasians face. Blacks have been categorized and labeled as so many things, a threat, irate, three-fifths human, among other things.

So, when you ask the question of whether I can, me personally, successfully bracket bias as a researcher, I can honestly say that during the research journey, bracketing will always be a work in progress. I find it essentially necessary to steer clear from topics where strong bias is present because it will not be a driving force of passion. It is not until the researcher can understand the coming and goings of others that they can mitigate and set aside their biased attitudes. It is not until individuals can fully, ethically, and successfully use the bracketing technique or other personal methods to combat bias, especially as researchers and scholars. I do feel that successful bracketing can be done, and for myself as a researcher, it will be done. I have learned a great deal throughout life and throughout my professional and academic experiences, particularly this doctoral journey, the importance of developing an all-inclusive attitude, and that when engaging in research topics and conversation, biases and prejudices can be revealed. 

Yes, I am a black woman with a Caucasian husband. However, regardless of that aspect, I continually faced racism, with and without him, in restaurants, bars, on the streets, in Starbucks, at my place of employment, while seeking employment, even in academic settings, and yes even against people of my own race and color. I have and will continue to have an all-inclusive attitude and will never feel that I am of privilege or better than others, even with my economic or educational status. We as Americans are a whole, and until people start to develop an accepting attitude, then racial injustice will continue to exist. All of which are resulted in how we raise our children and what we instill in our children. Biases and Prejudices are not innate or natural features. They are and continue to be environmental, social, and circumstantial drivers and ties. This is not only applicable to America, as the same goes for all other people and countries, who have let and participated in societal associations to oppress and suppress people of color and others continually. To continually deny nonwhites opportunities and placate their inaccessibility, thus turning the other cheek or a blind eye when they personally witness racial disparities, inopportunity, or were not treated fairly, or maliciously treated due to their physical appearance.  

Referencing today’s happenstances and occurrences. The Black Lives Matter Movement (BLMM), Antifa, Police Brutality Reform, The Equal Employment Opportunity  (EEOC), Equal Pay for women and people of color we have seen just how peaceful and racial protests can be. People are standing up and standing their ground when it comes to academic and economic segregation, isolation, racism, profiling, dehumanization, oppression, ill-gestation, lynching, and wrongful killings, among other things. Those who were closeted racists are coming into the light. Autonomous groups are going forces to take action for those who have been mistreated for so long, coming to the forefront to say, we now vividly see it, and we are no longer in denial, and we cannot take it anymore, we stand by you. Nevertheless, protesting and int destruction of properties going to do for Americans and people at large, who continues to fight a battle which has been swept under the rug for hundreds of years. Even with persons who are nonwhite, who continually face police brutality, racism, are underserved, and categorized and unprivileged, unbelonging, and undeserving.

So, again, to answer the question being posed. Yes, I have the mental capacity and desirability to bracket bias as a researcher successfully. I can only speak for myself. Even some of the most lucrative and decorated professionals hold biases and continue to treat people who are different unequally or less than, and as if they don’t matter. Because most medical, psychologists/therapists/counselors and other professionals are nonblack descents, when seeking preventive or therapeutic treatments, they do not trust that they will receive adequate care as their white counterparts, which is the primary reason why they remain vulnerable and susceptible to attract a variety of health conditions and illnesses that they forced to maintain and cope with themselves.

Personally, I stop seeing my primary care physician because, while all of her nursing staff are nonwhites, she uses the phrase “you people” when addressing blacks as a whole, and she’s Indian, nonwhite and other, which may be a result of her turnover rate when it comes to employment rates. 

Yes, I can successfully use bracketing in research and all facets of my daily engagements. As it is one thing to have a passion for something, but it is another to have a one-tracked biased mental state when engaging in passion fulfilling activities.

What do you think, bracketing is not only applicable to scholarly research, as it should be applicable to everyday life interactions.

What do you think?

LET US ALL ENJOY THIS MOMENT AND CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH LIKE ITS JUNE 19TH FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR EXISTENCE…. GO DRINK AND ENGAGE IN WHATEVER PLEASURABLE PROCLIVITIES YOU WISH… JUST KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNITED AND TOGETHER WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHTS AND OUR FREEDOM… WHO EVER WE ARE….

LET US NOT PAUSE AND HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT OUR BATTLE, THE SAME ONE WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT TODAY.

LET US STAND UP AND REJOICE AND LIFT OUR VOICES IN WAYS THAT WE THOUGHT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. WE CAN BREATHE.

What are you going to be doing to celebrate the commemoration of June 19, 2020?

Not sure what this means, here is a link to provide you with more details https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00947679.2008.12062768

Click to access the%20case%20for%20reparations.pdf