âThe child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmthâ - African proverb.Â
For far too long the world has embraced racist policies, ideals and ideologies. They have been oppressed and killed at an exponential rate. It got âbetterâ for a while. They had to fight for those rights they current possess. They had to go to hell and back to get them. But those rights are ignored by many. Those rights are not counted by man. Every time you look at a black person with suspicion for no reason, every time you perpetuate the stereotype that they are violent, untrustworthy, thugs, criminals, etc, you are making their lives worse. You are making it impossible to feel safe in their communities. Every time you look at a black person and see someone who is less than you as someone who is shady or a potential danger, you are part of the problem.
Itâs not just the cops in the US and people calling the police on them for crimes they are not committing, for frivolous reasons, who are hurting them. Itâs every person who allows it to happen, who remains silent, who doesnât care.
Black lives are not less important than white lives or any other lives. We should all be equal but we cannot be until black lives matter. We cannot allow ourselves to believe that we are all treated equally in society when black lives are threatened, ended and made harder because of the colour of their skin.
It does not hurt white people to admit we have privilege. We do. We were born with it. We have the privilege of feeling safe when we walk out the door. We have the privilege of not having to fear abuse for the colour of our skin.
It also does not hurt to listen, to prop up black voices, to aid in their fight for their lives. We can all do something to make a difference.
If the protests and riots across the US makes you fearful, sad, scared, then think about how black people feel. Think about how much fear they feel every time they or someone they love walks out the door. Let that motivate you to make changes. Start with yourself and your children (if you have them). Listen to what black people want from you. If thatâs nothing, then respect that. If itâs to stand behind them, then do it. If they want you to be vocal in your social groups and families and call out injustice and racism, then do it. We all have a part to play in this.
If we want a safer world, we MUST make it safe for everyone.
Otherwise this will keep happening.Â
Do not silence the anger of the oppressed.
Do better. We all must do better.
And to every black person and POC reading this.Â
gracieabrams
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