I’m not okay with what happened to#GeorgeFloyd, #AhmaudArbery, #BreonnaTaylor, or any person of colour who has lost their life at the hands of a white person.
I’m not okay with silence, either.
Yes, I’m afraid of saying the wrong thing but I’m more afraid of what will happen if we don’t say anything at all. I used to ignore the news because I couldn’t handle the reality of the real world. That in itself is privilege, and I refuse to hide behind it anymore.
I’ve been having this conversation in stories, but I had yet to make a statement about it. Truthfully, I was waiting for an image I hadn’t seen yet, a new learning opportunity. That’s when I saw these words by @thisisyolandarenteria and felt compelled to share them. I learned more about Black Lives Matter from her and she changed my perspective on riots. Being open to learning is an example of how we can grow together. There’s no room for white ego.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the statement, “if you don’t speak up, you’re part of the problem,” please think about how the BIPOC community feels. They want to know who’s support they have. They want to know that more people have their back. They want to know there is hope. They want to know we don’t want them dead.
So how will they know if we don’t tell them we hear them, we stand with them, and we will take action?
All lives CAN’T matter until #BLACKLIVESMATTER. The fact that we live in a country where anyone would have to assert that they matter at all, should tell you something is very wrong.
Here are four things you can do to start:
Speak out when you see injustice happening in front of you or hear racist remarks.
Follow more black businesses and artists.
Amplify the voices of black people that need to be heard.
Get involved to actively help defund the police and change the standard of their policies by signing petitions, making phone calls, and educating yourself. A few resources I use for this are: Cleo Wade, Campaign Zero, Black Lives Matter.
This won’t be my last post about this. I’m committed to using my platform to speak about important issues outside of personal style and the environment. I’m committed to supporting the work of the black community and shining a light on their worlds.
All my love,
Jesse