Let's Start with the Obvious
Let’s start with the obvious:
Systemic racism in America is real. Our history books overwhelmingly show us that this country was founded upon pillars of power and control over other humans, and those pillars still stand today.
The murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Stephon Clark, and countless others prove, beyond the shadow of a doubt, just how deeply entrenched racism runs within the veins of this country.
The country-wide protests are a result of decades of built-up suppression when more polite actions (such as wearing BLM shirts or kneeling during the national anthem) warranted little meaningful response.
Now let’s move to some that may be less obvious:
The biggest threat to the growth of racial justice is not the KKK or even the US government; it is the tens of thousands of white, middle-class American families that have the privilege of sitting by, complacent, knowing none of the injustices will ever impact their sheltered lives. This is called white privilege.
White privilege is not intrinsically bad; we are lucky enough to have such comfort in our lives. White privilege is only bad if we use it as a barrier to pretend nothing bad is happening in the world. Instead, our white privilege can be used as a platform to speak out against systemic racism.
“Black lives matter” is not the equivalency of “only black lives matter,” or “ black lives matter most.” It simply means “black lives matter.” Indeed, all lives can only matter once black lives also matter.
Now, here are some things I haven’t seen much of:
White people (especially older, white men) are uniquely positioned to use their voice for the biggest potential. Older, white men run this country; they have been in control of it since the beginning. If these same people were to begin to wield their power for good in support of the minority, real change will begin to happen before our very eyes. If you are white, older, and/or a man, take this opportunity to figure out how you can best be an advocate for others with less voice.
While certain words or actions aimed toward social justice make more impact than others, all actions of any size are useful, regardless of intention. Yes, Joe Biden will be attending George Floyd’s funeral as an opportunity to advance his platform, and yet, he is still attending his funeral. Yes, many companies are releasing shallow statements in support of racial awareness to increase sales, and yet, there is still value in their statements. Yes, people across America “jumped on the bandwagon” to post a black image on social media on Tuesday, and yet, many folks who have stood in the shadows stepped out for the very first time by doing so. Silence kills. The smallest, clumsiest step toward justice is far better than no step at all.
Here are the steps forward, laid out in order:
No one is expecting anyone else to stand up for something they don’t understand. Therefore, to better understand, start by educating yourself. Learn more about the history of America. Read books by black authors. Listen to podcasts about race. Read up on redlining, gerrymandering, bias, education funding, anti-racism, anything you can get your hands on. If you’re not sure where to start, start with Waking up White by Debbie Irving or So you Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. If you’ve read those, below is a link to much more.
Support black-owned businesses while simultaneously supporting your community. Complete listings for your city can be found by googling, “black-owned businesses in _________”. Continue to support the businesses by telling your friends about them.
Donate to one of the many charities and funds supporting racial awareness. If you’re not sure which to start with, click on the link below.
Finally, you can support by attending one of the peaceful protests happening across the country. If you do so, make sure to wear the right clothes and bring the right supplies with you. Below is a link to the guidelines of what to bring and wear.
It’s a lot, I know. It can be hard to sift through, hard to locate yourself amongst all of it. When in doubt, there is one, simple verb to hang on to. Empathize. It’s all about empathizing. Listen to them. Fight with them. Cry with them. March with them. Support them. If you do nothing else, empathize with them.
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