For the people in my feed who have no idea why #AhmaudArbery and #GeorgeFloyd are the latest Black men to be trending, I ask that you educate yourself. Your ability to remain unaware is the best example of your privilege. This is not a judgment, but a call to action.
For the people in my feed who think the current outrage is inflated, I ask that you imagine if the tables were turned. If you were hunted down for no other reason than because you’re white…and society reinforced that your oppression was justified. Or imagine how different your life would be if your partner, child, or best friend feared facing suspicion, mistreatment, or murder at any given moment. Would you be a little more understanding?
For the people in my feed who question the “senseless” rioting taking place, I ask you to use a different adjective. Yes, it’s devastating. Yes, it’s frightening. It might even be unfair. But it makes perfect sense. I saw a reporter question how rioters could wreak havoc and become violent against innocent neighbors with impunity. That’s exactly the point. White people — namely the police officers in question who swore to protect EVERYONE in their community — have acted out not just with violence, but with cold-blooded murder. They are not charged, or only charged after public outrage, or charge then found not guilty, or let off with minimal sentencing while people — namely young Black men — receive life-ruining sentences for far lesser crimes. I don’t condone violent rioting, but it makes sense.
For the people in my feed who are hurting, I see you. I don’t have the same lived experience, but in some *lesser* ways, I can understand your fear and anger as a woman (that feeling of walking alone at night, that feeling of letting a worker into your home when you’re there alone, that feeling of walking down a secluded hallway) and as part of a mixed family (hyper-aware anytime we walk into a new space in case someone will be “upset” at our presence, hyper-aware when we’re driving, hyper-aware when we’re walking down side streets).
I hesitated posting because I feel like a drop in the bucket, but movements reach critical mass one voice at a time. I’m encouraged by all the people and businesses I follow who have spoken up. Especially those with “something to lose” by rocking the boat, making waves, showing their true colors.
I saw a caption that said all lives can’t matter until Black lives matter. Of course this is true. The sum must equal its parts. When one group is constantly held down, discounted, and in this case, killed, it’s up to everyone with a voice to reject this treatment. Staying silent is choosing the side of the dominant culture, whether you “mean to” or not. Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel explains, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
I look at classrooms, neighborhoods, TV shows, and workplaces and I truly believe *some* progress has been made. I’ve met some amazing Black women recently who have thriving businesses — a financial advisor, a lawyer, a social impact coach, a PR specialist, and then some. But Black success and media representation does not negate the fact that there is absolutely still systemic and personal racism that exists.
Here’s to raising our voices in solidarity with our Black neighbors, colleagues, and loved ones. Because #BlackLivesMatter.
And because I don’t like to discuss problems without sharing potential solutions, here are some resources I’ve come across recently. MANY other exist, so please do share in the comments or within your own networks.
- Review these anti-racism resources and these. (Especially white people, but these are useful for anyone looking to stay informed.)
- Put your consumer dollars to use by buying from Black-owned businesses, especially local ones. BLK+GRN and WeBuyBlack are just a couple vetted marketplaces. (I personally worked with Iwacu Boutique, which celebrates the owner’s Rwandan heritage with ethically-made clothes for women of all backgrounds.)
- Include Black voices in your workplace, your workshops, and your social media shares.
- Check out these questions to ask yourself as a white person before posting about racism.
Remember our shared humanity. Think of all the pleasant, or even wonderful, interactions you’ve had with someone of a different race. The systemic shifts we need have been in the works for centuries and will likely continue, taking more time than is fair. But you choose how you think, speak, and interact on a personal level every single day. Systemic change—and critical mass—starts there.
