ART BY MIRIAM @vientoxsol
I think everyone will agree, 2020 has been quite a year. The pandemic will likely be top of mind for most people looking back on the recent months but I hope it will also be a year remembered for starting a new era of Civil Rights protests that result in the long term, long over due change and police reform needed in this country. Last month, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Tony McDade were murdered. In the time it took me to start writing this post and complete it, Rayshard Brooks was also murdered. Each of these events took place in different states, with their own unique set of circumstances, but each victim was an unarmed Black American who was killed by the police, with the exception of Ahmaud Arbery who was killed by two known white supremacists.
I can’t really put into words my frustration, anger and sadness over the senseless killings of Breonna, Ahmaud, George, Tony and Rayshard (or the dozens that came before them). I also cannot wrap my head around how anyone can be a white supremacist or how anyone can become angry when confronted with the fact they have privilege as a white person but, this is America. People are choosing not to see racism, choosing not to believe the experiences of BIPOC, and choosing to believe they are more important and their life is more valuable than others.
The remainder of this post I’m specifically speaking to white people. There is plenty of information out there to educate yourself on racism, systemic racism and police brutality. Use google, follow civil rights leaders on social media, order some books online etc. We can all learn more and try to understand it on a deeper level. We need to speak up if we hear someone saying racists things, have the uncomfortable conversations with family, examine our own behavior and how it could be better (we all have probably acted inappropriately at some point in time without even realizing it), listen to people of color (really listen, hear their experiences and how different they are than your own purely because of the color of their skin), seek out and listen to black leaders. It is on us to help shoulder the burden of this fight that Black Americans have been carrying for decades.
Please check out the list of resources below if you are interested in learning more, getting involved, or helping those who are on the front lines protesting and fighting for a better country. RACISM IS NOT A MATTER OF OPINION, POLITICAL OR OTHERWISE, IT IS A MATTER OR RIGHT AND WRONG.
GOOGLE DOCS:
Anti-Racism Resources for White People
Organizations Benefiting Black Americans
Natl Resource List #GeorgeFloyd+
BAIL FUNDS:
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
L.A. Peoples City Council Freedom Fund
DONATE + GET INVOLVED:
Committee To Protect Journalists
ELEVATED BASICS 