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<h1><b>An Open Letter to the Members of the National Federation of the
Blind</b></h1><br>
<br>
I write this message to you as the elected President of the National
Federation of the Blind. I also write it to you as an American who is
struggling this week. I call upon members of our organization to
recognize the solidarity we share as blind people and that the value we
place on love within our movement is needed more today than at any other
time in our history. <br>
<br>
I watched the horrific video shot by a brave seventeen year-old of the
killing of George Floyd, a citizen of our great nation. Before I watched
the video, I wondered what I could do and how I could contribute to
healing the pain. I had no answers. After I watched the video, I realized
I still did not have the answers and I was sad, angry, scared,
frustrated, and without hope. Then I realized that we share tools in the
National Federation of the Blind that can help. We can not look away and
we need to share what we know from our experience in this people’s
movement. <br>
<br>
Our movement has been sustained for the purpose of serving as a vehicle
for collective action by the blind of the nation to promote the
vocational, cultural, and social advancement of the blind; to achieve the
integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality with the
sighted; and to take any other action which will improve the overall
condition and standard of living of the blind. While racial equality in
our nation is not within our mission, we also recognize that blindness
affects all races and that the society we live within has an impact on
our membership.<br>
<br>
The Federation’s
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17129&qid=3711049">
Code of Conduct</a> specifically emphasizes our commitments to diversity.
In short "We respect differences of opinion, beliefs, identities,
and other characteristics that demonstrate that blind people are a
diverse cross section of society...In promoting a diverse and growing
organization, we expect integrity and honesty in our relationships with
each other and openness to learning about and experiencing cultural
diversity. We believe that these qualities are crucial to fostering
social and intellectual maturity. Intellectual maturity also requires
individual struggle with unfamiliar ideas." This week, I have been
struggling to comprehend the fear and anger that black members of my
Federation family are experiencing. I do not, and never can, have the
authentic lived experience that you have, but yet I am also completely
outraged by the hate and injustice that fell upon George Floyd on Monday.
I recognize there are many centuries of painful layers wrapped up in that
moment. I recognize that George is neither the first nor the last in a
chain of injustices that need to be addressed. I want you to know I stand
with you in facing the injustice that persists against you because of the
color of your skin. I want you to know that I love you and I struggle
with not being able to fully know your pain and fear. I want you to know
I am prepared to be guided by you as to how I can make a difference. I
cannot say that I have not become desensitized in times past, but I can
tell you I will never turn away again.<br>
<br>
While our organization is dedicated to advancing the rights of blind
people, we should not act as though race does not exist. As our chapters
attempt to do business, as we urge our members to take up our priorities,
we should recognize that thousands of our members are impacted by the
painful realizations of this week. As a people's movement, we cannot
pretend that our people only have one characteristic. Now is the time to
let each member know we love them and we recognize their hurt. Now is
also the time for us to recognize, as individuals, that we carry implicit
bias learned from the society around us, and to seek the training that
will enhance our awareness. Now is the time to give love to our black
members so that we might learn how we can do better in building the
understanding that powers the organized blind movement. <br>
<br>
Now is not the time for us to use our organizational communication tools
to offer position statements about the activities playing out on the
streets of our nation. it is easy to write messages and posts of
solidarity without having a true understanding of the issues. It is easy
to suggest that we share the concerns of our black members. The harder
thing for us to do is to consciously listen and seek understanding while
supporting others in their pain and frustration. The Federation has never
been known for merely doing what is easy. The priority today is to ensure
all of our black members know they are welcomed and loved in this
movement. In fact, we should extend that same truth to any others who
feel the real pain sweeping our nation. Please do not use organizational
assets to enter the dialogue around race. That is not our purpose as an
organization and we may unintentionally make it worse. We need to
continue to coordinate messaging and to be guided by the wisdom of our
diversity and inclusion committee. As leaders of our movement, we should
also be conscious that our public posts may be misunderstood as
representing the Federation. Our personal feelings and misunderstanding
around the death of George Floyd, the protests sweeping our nation, and
the underlying systemic discrimination may hurt and divide members of the
organization. We cannot let that happen and we must be careful as leaders
not to add to the pain our members are experiencing. As it relates to our
public messaging, let us stay focused on the priorities of the organized
blind movement. As it comes to our cherished friends, let our priority be
to reach out personally to listen and offer our hands in support.<br>
<br>
I have had the opportunity to gather virtually with some of our top black
leadersa group who will continue to guide my actions related to these
issues. I asked them for wisdom and love in finding ways that I could
guide our membership during this trying time in our nation. Their message
was clear. Our movement is built on love and love always conquers hate.
The Federation family needs to shine a light for the rest of the nation
by continuing to demonstrate that the love, and solidarity, that we share
with each other in this movement makes all the difference. They also
noted that our organization has always valued civil<u> disobedience</u>
and persistent pursuit of equality. They urged that we continue to pray
for peace, justice, and equality. I could not agree more with these
friends I have been blessed to learn from in our movement. Furthermore, I
am thankful that we have a movement that provides us a meaningful
opportunity to know people whose lived experience is so different from
our own while sharing a common bond as blind people.<br>
<br>
In the National Federation of the Blind we know that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines us or our future. Blindness is the thing that
brings us together but it is not the thing that makes us want to stay
together. That, in a word, is love. We have love in our movement
and we strengthen it by giving it. We have some wisdom and we strengthen
it by continuing to seek greater understanding. We need more of both love
and wisdom at every opportunity. Let's continue to share love, hope, and
determination with each other so that together we transform our dreams
into reality. One of those dreams still left tobe transformed is that of
a nation where we can join together regardless of our unique
characteristics. That is a dream I am struggling to help my own children
understand so they may do better than I in making it come true. I speak
for all of our national board members when I say we sincerely believe
that the love and togetherness demonstrated in our movement can go a long
way in contributing to that dream. It can be hard to remember that in
this moment when so many of us are hurting, angry, frustrated, and
scared. Let us continue to support each other in the Federation family.
Let us avoid the harmful language that will only serve to divide us in
this time. Let us go forward together, love one another, and change the
world for the better.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
<br>
<i>Mark A. Riccobono, President</i><br>
<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
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