INTRODUCTION
TOGETHER, WE CAN . . .
Dear one,
Progress isn’t the longest word in the dictionary, but in many ways it’s the largest. Housed within its definition are words such as courage, hope, learning, and effort. But progress is more than just a word; it’s an ideal and a direction toward who and what we may become.
Progress by its very definition requires change, and unfortunately the concept of change is something deeply opposed by many people. There are those who find change intimidating or frightening, and there are also those who actively try to stop change because they benefit from things remaining the same.
But the truth is that change is necessary. The scourge of destructive forces such as racism, sexism, climate change, and gun violence have left the fabric of our society in tatters. Communities, families, cultures, individuals, and entire races have been devastated and even destroyed because of these forces.
And the devastation continues. Too many people are still suffering and far too much will be lost if we do not act.
Growing up, neither of us had the tools or resources necessary to combat or even understand many of the issues we discuss throughout the book. Which is why we wanted to give others what we wish we would have had sooner. What would Porsche’s life as a young biracial woman have been like if she hadn’t had to worry about her family being houseless when her apartment burned down or about how horribly her brother was treated by the justice system because he is half Black? How would Fred’s life as a young Black man have been different if he hadn’t constantly been afraid someone might bring a gun to school or if he hadn’t felt ashamed about his interests because people around him said a young boy should enjoy football more than musicals?
While we each faced these traumas and hardships as individuals, we are part of a community of billions around the world who have faced similar experiences of poverty, violence, and prejudice. Understanding that the various challenges that exist in our society are all connected is the first step to eradicating these challenges.
We called upon this community when putting together this book. Like everyone, the two of us come from very specific backgrounds and have experiences that shaped who we are and what we say in this book. But we are aware that our perspectives can’t speak for everyone. There are communities we don’t belong to and experiences we don’t share—but at the center of progress is the ability to make space to learn from and be better for those unlike ourselves. Which is why we’ve made space for others to offer their knowledge and perspectives. The book features conversations with numerous thought leaders, activists, and experts to help create a deeper and more
intersectional lens through which to view these vital topics.
SIDE NOTE: In the back of the book, we’ve added definitions for the words that are bolded throughout. We’ve also created an online toolkit focused on the topics discussed throughout the book, which includes additional resources and actionable steps to make change. Be sure to check out BetterThanWeFoundItBook.com.
When we began writing, we didn’t want to simply tell stories about the ways the world might have wronged us; we also wanted to provide an opportunity to see how all of us might be unknowingly wronging the world. No one is perfect, and there are many ways that the two of us have had to listen and learn. As much as this book is an opportunity to take action, it’s also an opportunity for growth. Because we’re all still learning.
In forging a path to a better world, stumbling is inevitable. Many of the struggles, missteps, and mistakes you will make, we have made as well—and we will all continue to make mistakes. But there should be grace for those who are willing to be held accountable when they stumble. A person is remembered for how they got up, not how they fell. What did they learn? How did they grow? Did they have the courage to be better the next time? Progress is a journey filled with imperfection; the important part is that you take the journey.
Our imperfections give us the opportunity to constantly strive for better. This book offers all of us that opportunity.
These pages are both a labor of love and a leap of faith. In them we offer our truths, our failures, and the ways in which we’ve grown, in hope that readers will feel not only inspired— but loved.
Love for others is fundamental to the work we’re doing. In so many ways, we are all family, connected by our pain and our joy. In the stories and conversations throughout this book, we have tried to help people understand these connections and the importance of considering why even a stranger should be dear to you.
We hope that even if some, many, or most of the experiences relayed in this book do not resonate for you firsthand, the stories and interviews still serve to create the building blocks of empathy that will inspire you to take action. Our greatest desire is that you will choose to use whatever privilege you may have to understand and protect others, and that others will do the same for you in spaces where you lack privilege.
For the sake of the dear ones in our lives and for the sake of the children we hope to have one day and the people they will consider dear ones, we’ve challenged ourselves to give more to this world than we take, and we are challenging you to do the same. More thoughtfulness, more acceptance, more respect—and more love.
Progress is possible—if we lean into the bravery and leadership it will take to create it. This book is our attempt to do that. With it, we hope to shed light on some of the most critical issues we face as a society and inspire you to create necessary change—inspire you to be brave along with us and to lead alongside us, and alongside the millions of others already growing and taking action.
Better Than We Found It isn’t just a title; it’s the manifestation of our wildest dream: that future generations won’t have to face the challenges we are facing. The world is changing quickly, no matter how much some may try to avoid or even prevent it, and together we will decide in what direction it goes. All of us are the youth of yesterday and the ancestors of tomorrow. As such, let us be remembered for progress, let us be remembered for saying “enough is enough,” and let us be remembered as leaders who saw the greatest issues and challenges of our time and chose to boldly overcome them.
Because having a vision for what the world should be means nothing if you won’t do what’s necessary to create a world in that image.
With love,
The Josephs
A NOTE ON THE ANECDOTES: While we strove to make these scenes as accurate to reality as possible, the dialogue has been re-created from memory, which means it's a representation of what happened and not a literal transcript of what was said. Names, too, have largely been fictionalized.
Copyright © 2022 by Frederick Joseph and Porsche Joseph. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
