14/10/2026
Daily Habits, Racism, and the Courage to Reflect
Some of the most important lessons we learn in life are taught to us during childhood by people we love, trust, and respect. Many of those lessons become lifelong habits, while others quietly shape how we view ourselves, other people, and the world around us.
I was taught to brush my teeth after every meal and use all the toothpaste in the tube. I still do both. I even keep a toothbrush and toothpaste in each of my vehicles. Thankfully, I have never had a cavity.
I was also taught that I would have to work twice as hard as the majority to be considered average. Under some circumstances, my experiences have reinforced that lesson. I was taught to give my employer more than I was compensated for, and I have carried that principle with me throughout my life.
But what happens when the lessons we receive during childhood are not healthy habits or principles of hard work? What happens when we are taught stereotypes, prejudices, or inaccurate beliefs about people who look different from us?
Those lessons can be just as deeply ingrained, sometimes without us even realizing it.
We can inherit beliefs without ever questioning whether they are true.
During our formative years, we may have accepted what our parents, relatives, friends, teachers, and other respected individuals told us. We trusted them, and in many cases, they were simply passing along what they had been taught.
As we grow older, however, we have a responsibility to examine those lessons for ourselves. Loving and respecting the people who raised us does not require us to carry forward every belief they held.
Sometimes, growth means having the courage to acknowledge that something we once believed was inaccurate, unfair, or harmful.
Unfortunately, honest conversations about racism and prejudice can be uncomfortable. Some people fear being misunderstood, judged, or criticized. Others worry that expressing their beliefs could jeopardize their careers, financial security, or relationships.
As a result, we may become less willing to discuss what we were taught, what we believe, and what we have experienced. Silence, however, does not necessarily mean that a problem no longer exists.
My concern about racism in law enforcement is rooted in the responsibility that comes with the badge.
My experience has been that most law enforcement professionals are fair, dedicated, and committed to protecting others. Many would willingly risk their lives to save someone they have never met, regardless of that person’s race, background, or circumstances. I have tremendous respect for those who serve with integrity.
However, acknowledging the good does not require us to ignore the possibility of wrongdoing.
Racism can exist within any profession, including law enforcement. When prejudice goes undetected or unchallenged in someone entrusted with the authority to investigate, arrest, and influence the lives of others, the consequences can be devastating. An innocent person can suffer, a family can be torn apart, and public trust can be damaged.
I have read about more wrongful convictions than I can count. These cases remind me why fairness, accountability, and the willingness to question our own assumptions are so important.
This is not about accusing an entire profession or assuming that someone is prejudiced because of a disagreement or misunderstanding. It is about recognizing that no profession, organization, or individual is beyond the need for honest self-examination.
Perhaps we should all ask ourselves a few questions:
What were we taught as children that we have never taken the time to question?
Have we formed opinions about people we have never truly taken the time to know?
Are there beliefs we continue to hold because we genuinely believe they are right, or simply because we have held them for so long?
And are we willing to listen when someone shares an experience that challenges our understanding of the world?
We do not have to agree on everything to treat one another with dignity. We do not have to share the same experiences to listen with an open mind. And we do not have to abandon the people we love to reconsider something they taught us.
Self-reflection is not a sign of weakness. It is an opportunity for growth.
Imagine how much stronger our families, workplaces, communities, and country could become if we approached difficult conversations with curiosity instead of hostility, understanding instead of assumptions, and compassion instead of condemnation.
We cannot change everything we were taught, but we can decide what we continue to believe and what we pass on to the next generation.
My hope is that we can create an environment where people feel comfortable reflecting honestly, asking difficult questions, acknowledging mistakes, and learning from one another without immediately being labeled or attacked.
We are all human. We all have something to learn, and we all have the capacity to grow.
Perhaps the first step toward a more united society is having the courage to examine ourselves before judging someone else.
What were you taught during childhood that you have since reconsidered? Is there something you once believed that you now see differently?
You do not have to share anything you are uncomfortable making public. But today might be a good day to reflect, challenge an old assumption, and make sure the lessons we pass on are rooted in truth, fairness, respect, and love for one another.
Together, we can learn from the past without allowing its prejudices to define our future.
