Last Wednesday, January 6 2021, was a dark day in our country's history. We all witnessed the horrifying assault on our Capitol building by an angry mob of, let's face it, mostly White Trump supporters. 

As I watched that grim and frightening scene unfold, I, as many of you couldn't help but note the difference in how these violent insurrectionists were treated as they forced entry into our Capitol Building - while Congress was in session - and how the mostly  Black and peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters were treated this summer.

And I know there has been a lot of discussion around that in the media over the last week.

As I watched that, I was utterly appalled, and I was deeply ashamed. 

The truth is that if certain White men- who I won't name because they don't deserve the publicity, but wearing ridiculous headdresses and standing at the podium of the Senate, or propping their dirty feet on the desk of the Speaker of the House - if those men had been Black, they never would have made it that far.

 At best, they would have been tear gassed, thrown to the ground and handcuffed. 

At worst, well, they might have been shot multiple times before they even reach the steps.

And that makes my heart so sad, and heavy. 

And it also and more importantly, prods me to work harder on getting Woke, than I have. 

And what I want to talk about today, librarians, is how crucial it is for all of us who are White, to take on that hard, but imperative work of waking up to what life is like and has been like for our our fellow citizens, who are African American or people of color indigenous. 

Because life is very different for them. 

For complete show notes, visit masterfullibrarian.com/ep-6