Racism, Loss, and Living while Black: an interview with Fred Brown
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Fred Brown, CEO of the Forbes Fund
“I cry on the inside”
Fred Brown is the CEO of the Forbes Fund. He is also a power-lifter, change advocate, and the father of six children.
In this episode of the Handle with Care podcast, Fred ushers listeners into his experience as a Black man in America, delving into his personal losses, reflecting on the murder of George Floyd, and talking about the head trip of anti-black racism that caused him to question himself over the years as he advocated for meaningful, systemic change.
His story is compelling, immediate and important. You can find the Handle with Care podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Or you can listen here
Here are three key takeaways from my conversation with Fred
Systemic racism in America is real, insidious, and persistent. Fred talked about personal grief over the state of things, the way that systems, whether that was the probation system or family reunification system, were established and maintained in ways that hurt lower-income black men, women, and children. I have not been wounded by these systems, but it is important for me to listen to the stories of those that have, to believe them, and to advocate and usher in meaningful change. If Fred’s story piqued your interest, there are links to the Forbes Fund as well as to a good primer for educating yourself on these issues in the show notes.
Be careful what you convey/expect from a leader that is grieving. Are you expecting them to just keep on churning, without pause? Fred has a beautiful commitment to his community. He felt like his accomplishments were not just for him but also for his community. He felt an expectation of strength and persistence from his community and that messaging kept him (in part) from fully grieving.
We all need a place to grieve and just to be, without an expectation of performance. Fred talked about feeling compelled to keep our interview date, even with a dozen other pressing commitments. That having an unbiased listener allowed him to be authentic and courageous. His words towards me were kind…and this show gives me the opportunity to really listen to a story. But it can be hard to do in our personal lives, when there are so many demands and questions that we want to ask and subtle agendas or conditioning that keep us from really being available and showing up. May we be and may we become a safe space for those that make up our community.
Iterating at the Forbes Fund
Resources for further study
Community connections