School Nursing

The Relentless School Nurse: Because Representation Matters

 

(Original image by: Bria Goeller and good trubble (Black owned design shop out of California). The shadow is little Ruby Bridges from Norman Rockwell’s iconic 1963 painting “The Problem We All Live With.”)

Of all the images that are seared in my memory from what it means to have a Biden/Harris administration, this one feels most consequential. Representation matters is the message that we must remember, act upon, and ensure as we move forward in a new day in America. The visual of the shadow of Ruby Bridges as she walks to school that first day of desegregation coupled with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris walking to her destiny is the one that I will celebrate. 

The message of hope born from possibility is what the Biden/Harris administration represents. “We can define America in one word: possibilities,” said President-elect Biden. We are in a renewed moment in our country, it is remarkable and history-making. America is embracing its new potential, but the struggle continues and we will not forget the lessons of the Barack Obama presidency. Racism does not end with the election of Kamala Harris or Barack Obama. In fact, it does the opposite, it amplifies the truth of the scope of racism in America. But, we are at an inflection point in this country and the lessons are hard but necessary to move beyond this moment to the greater goal of a “more perfect Union,” which means a more equitable Union. 

One of the best quotes of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s acceptance speech:

But while I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities and to the children of our country regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not simply because they’ve never seen it before.                 

The full speech can be viewed here:  

And so this new day brings possibility, as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said “I’m so ready to go to work, Joe.”

Me too! 

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.