I use this blog site to post about the loss of my Mum and my grieving experience, however I am pausing my social posts about my separate personal life and I am using this blog today as a voice for others. Today I am expressing to you a different kind of grief that I am going through. What every kind human being is going through right now. It’s time we use our platforms to get voices heard. It is common to grieve something you haven’t had before. The grief we are all going through right now is of a world we wish we lived in. A world where a young black boy can walk down the street and not be deemed as a threat to a white person walking by. A world where a black mother's heart doesn't drop when the house phone starts ringing, thinking something bad has happened to her child. A world where our friends and family aren’t called out for the colour of their skin and are racially abused in unimaginable ways. But most of all, a world where justice is served when needed, professionally and efficiently.

 

‘Fear of “getting political” on your social media is, at its core, racist. This isn’t a political issue - it is a humanitarian one’. 

 

A big part of the problem is that white people are afraid to speak up, and why is that? Because you don’t think your social group agrees with the concept of BLM? Because you’re too scared of what your parents might say? Is it because you think that other people are already helping so there's not really any point in you doing it as well? Why do you not understand how you not participating is actually extremely offensive? You could literally save a life by helping someone in the street. I understand you may be scared to get involved, but how do you think the other person feels? The one who is being threatened by police or abused by someone else just because of their skin. I can assure you the punishment you may receive for simply voicing your opinions and helping, will never be half as bad as the punishment they are trying to enforce on the victim. This unfortunately is what we call white privilege. We need to start challenging people, friends and family and make them understand the importance of all of this. 

 

No the black tile someone has posted may not have been viewed by every single person on instagram, and no their particular post may not stop racism as a whole, but the ones who already follow them will value their participation for change. I received messages from my friends saying thank you for what I was posting and writing about BLM , why should they have to thank me for something that simply shouldn’t even be happening right now. People need to realise these social media hashtags and posts are NOT a ‘trend’. Activism is NOT a ‘trend’. Social media holds a huge amount of power and when it comes to matters like these, things need to be said and need to be shared. Share awareness if anything. But can I also say that the only way the one black tile on your instagram page will even count is if you sign the petitions, and you donate if/when possible. 

 

An instagram post is not enough, please keep the same energy in a months time and continue to keep it. I have seen a lot of people say ‘what is a black tile going to do exactly?’ and many tweets like that, and I can understand the confusion. But I also see how powerful black out tuesday became as many people on my feed were posting it with links to petition and donation pages. Every little helps right? The posts potentially may seem like a minor thing to some people, (which I do not agree with), HOWEVER it may actually educate someone who follows you, to understand more about what is going on. They may have never actually been exposed to it. Racism is taught and it starts at home, some people are brought up in this world to hate black skin. If someone is stuck in their ways it is so hard to change their minds, but it is so worth the try. Teach people to love. Teach them a better world. 

 

Twitter is hands down the most powerful app on a person's phone this year, because it shows you the truth. The News is so easily able to blind people of the truth. For example there was a video shown that was actually cut short, where two police cars were driving towards protesters. The video that was shown on the news was stopped just as one of the cars pulled up to the protesters, to make it look like they were helping or ‘controlling the situation’ harmlessly. The real full video shows the police car driving right into the protesters and running them over. I am disgusted. There are pictures and videos being shown to the world of police brutality at its finest, where they are throwing tear gas at innocent peaceful protesters. They are harming children, and holding guns to their parents. What kind of world is this? All that is being asked for is protection, they’re not asking to be killed or attacked. The worst thing I’ve seen is white people are rioting, and breaking into stores. Yet this is not being shown on TV, instead they are focusing more on the black people raising their voices. This isn’t fair. White people are the problem and I don’t apologise if this offends you.

 

There are so many beautiful moments in protesting that I have seen with my own eyes. There are video-montages showing incredible moments during protests that have been going on. And there are also videos showing how these moments are so quickly destroyed by those in the force. Please try and watch some of the protest videos and realise who the real threat to our countries are. A peaceful protest is all people wanted to do, to spread awareness and fight for justice for the recent murder of George Floyd and so many other people whose lives were taken inexcusably. You can’t even count on both hands the amount of lives that have been taken, and not received the right justice for their death. This is so disturbing and something needs to change. 

 

We are already going through a major pandemic due to COVID-19, we are now going through another one because everyone is tired. They are tired of hurting, being abused, not being heard or understood. And you know what, I’m tired too. As a white woman it has been confusing to know what's right to say, I would never want to step on the toes of others but the bigger picture shows that it is not white against black, it is everyone against racists. If my black friend isn’t being heard, then I WILL speak up. If my black friend is being abused, I WILL step in. If my black friend is protesting for peace and justice, I WILL walk with them.

 

‘It’s up to us -Black, white, everyone - no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out’ - Michelle Obama.

 

If talking about racism makes you uncomfortable, you are the problem. We need to expose ourselves to the realness of all of this, to understand the deeper roots. ’You shouldn’t understand the rage, you should feel the rage’. And if you don’t feel so raged about all of this do you not think you should ask yourselves why? ‘Yes, you’re not obligated to share these ideals on your social media accounts. However, reflect on the reasons why you don’t want to’. My heart physically aches everyday for the black and brown community, and I’m not the one experiencing it. You need to feel the pain they are in. It’s time we stop being selfish, and stop scrolling past the saddening and awful videos that are posted online to really connect with everyone who is hurting. No I am not highly educated on this matter, but I am learning every single day, just to be able to use my voice and help where and when I can and right now that is all that matters. There IS a thing called white privilege, which I can’t believe is even a thing, however please use it to your best advantage - do not abuse it. 

 

‘I acknowledge my white privilege and instead of allowing it to put a muzzle on me, I will use it to speak up for what is right and what is wrong’.

 

This blog post is to show the importance of how getting involved in this can help. If we are loud enough, justice is served accordingly. It may even prevent the lives of others being taken from us. Please do what you can. Donate. Sign petitions. Go to any local peaceful protests. Keep everyone safe, and keep this energy!!! 

 

‘WE said: Black Lives Matter. NEVER said: Only Black Lives Matter. WE know: All Lives Matter. We just need your help with #blacklivesmatter for Black Lives are in danger…’

 

It is not enough to not be racist. You must be unapologetically anti-racist. Stop only sympathising, and start taking stronger and more impactful actions. After all, actions speak louder than words right? To further educate yourself on the matter here are some films and documentaries you can watch that show the truth and are a real representation on how black lives are being treated/even taken, and have been for far too long. 

 

13th

When They See Us

The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson

Just Mercy

Injustice

Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap

12 Years A Slave

 

And there are many many more, you simply just have to type into google, and the list will go on. Please take some time out of your day to watch and learn about what is really going on with police brutality, the corruption of America and racism.

 

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/