Ways to better understand racism, how we can specifically address it and how we, as individuals and social work advocates, can stand up for all of the marginalized in our community, especially minorities.

It was a true privilege last week to attend the Community Workshop and Dialogue on Institutional Racism that was noted in the Advocate! It was great to learn some specific ways to better understand racism, how we can specifically address it and how we, as individuals and social work advocates, can stand up for all of the marginalized in our community, especially minorities. With the Legislative Session beginning this week, we all need to advocate for better ways to address the concerns that were highlighted at the workshop!

For quite some time, I have been very involved as a private citizen in the culture of life advocacy and am very concerned about the direction that the new president has embarked upon in this arena. As was noted at the very end of the workshop, we cannot afford to abandon our children - especially, the innocent unborn.

Unfortunately, a disproportionate percentage of abortions involve minorities, especially, African Americans (comprise 13% of total US population / account for over 35 % of abortions in US); what a terrible form of institutional racism. I have been to some Legislative Hearings in the past about these concerns, as well as promoting bans on embryonic stem cell research, as I did at the Health and Welfare Committee last year as a private citizen.

I volunteer in the community to help expectant mothers, and I have counseled many women and men who are experiencing PTSD related to the unfortunate abortion choice that they made in the past. God's healing is available for all of us - we need to reach out and open our hearts to give and receive His Love.

A great local culture of life resource for God's people of all colors is the North Baton Rouge Women’s Help Center, a Not-for-Profit organization, 7515 Scenic Highway , 225-359-9001 / www.family-values.org. They are providing many life alternatives, as well as counseling, pregnancy testing, STD testing, Medicaid Applications, child loss recovery, Baby Basket Store and access to Housing, Adoption, GED help, etc.

In closing, some words from "Colored People," by DC Talk:

Pardon me, your epidermis is showing, sir
I couldn't help but note your shade of melanin
I tip my hat to the colorful arrangement
Cause I see the beauty in the tones of our skin.