Black Lives Matter

Hello there friend, how are you? I hope you are safe and well.

I was going to write you and tell you of my week, my second full week back at work in the COVID crisis. But I can’t waste time with such a banal topic. There are more important things to talk about this week.

As if a global pandemic wasn’t traumatic enough, the U.S. has been retraumatized. On Monday May 25, George Floyd was taken into police custody. The matter escalated, and Floyd was then held on the ground with a police officer’s knee pressed into his neck. Ten minutes later, George Floyd was dead.

Video of Floyd’s murder at the hands of police began to hit national news. The video was played repeatedly in the media, with full audio and video. The sights and sounds of the video are equally disturbing. The video has been played daily since the killing.

Last Saturday night I turned on the local nightly news, to see the news of the day. Instead I saw live coverage of a riot in downtown Indianapolis. Earlier that day, several hundred people met to protest the killing of George Floyd, and other black people murdered in the U.S.:

Then, as night fell, the crowd changed. A riot began. It was the second night of riots in Indianapolis. According to journalists on the scene, it was considerably more violent than the night before.

Four weeks ago, the Indianapolis Metro Police Department had two cases in which 2 unarmed black men were killed by police within in 24 hours. While the city was still under a "shelter in place order" due to the pandemic, protests were held for the men killed in these cases.

Now four weeks later, with the death of George Floyd, people began rioting in downtown Indianapolis. I sat watching the footage in complete shock. I have lived here for most of my life and I have never seen anything like it.

The footage of the riot was explosive. I saw dumpsters on fire in the middle of the road. I saw journalists risking their personal safety to report the story. I saw police deploying tear gas canisters to disperse the crowds.

I saw windows shattered. I saw rage, hurt, anger, frustration, and pain. I then realized that every window could be seen as physical representation of the country right now, and how I can only suppose many are feeling right now-completely shattered.

I think it is important to note that many of the people causing destruction in Indianapolis last Saturday night were white. I saw several white people with guns. Large guns, which to me looked like weapons of war.

It is also important to note that there were two groups of people there that night-demonstrators, and those who were there to riot. The demonstrators were not the ones rioting that night.

A friend of mine who was there described the time as a peaceful afternoon and evening, with every type of person represented. Every creed, color, sexual orientation, religion, and gender, came together as one to bring about social justice.

Since last Saturday night, protests and riots have continued. It seems that every major city has had protests. In fact, protests have been held around the world.

Image source:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/world/george-floyd-global-protests-intl/index.html

I would now like to take a moment to share my experience of childhood, to share my perspective. I have shared this story here before; I pray you indulge me for a few moments.

You may not know this about me, but I am an adopted child. My parents had three natural born children, and then began to take in children from the foster care care system. They later adopted one of the boys in their care, a young black boy. Three years later, I was born and entered into the foster care system. I was placed with the people who adopted me. The rest is history.

Growing up, I knew my brother looked different than I did. His skin was different, his features were different, and he didn’t look like anyone else in the family. I then realized that I did not look like anyone in the family either. My family is all dark haired, with dark eye color, and a darker complexion than mine. As a child I was yellow blonde, eyes that change color, and fair skin. I stood out as much as my brother did.

That being said, we were a family. We were an all-white family with two adopted kids, one of whom was black. As fate would have it, we lived across the street from an all-black family who adopted a white son. My brother and he had a lot in common! They had many conversations together about their shared experiences.

Growing up in my family has given me a unique filter through which I see the world. I am thankful to have had this experience as a child, which has had a tremendous impact in my life.

When I saw the video of George Floyd’s murder, I immediately thought of my brother. That could have been my brother. I see my brother in videos like these. That makes viewing the video especially chilling and disturbing. It should be chilling and disturbing to everyone.

In the past, when I heard racist statements, I would leave the discussion. I would literally leave a room when such a conversation was taking place, rather than make someone feel uncomfortable. However, change comes from the uncomfortable. Silence is equal to complicity. I cannot be silent at this time. None of us can.

Social change can and will happen. It is long overdue. What can we do to bring about change? How can we eradicate racism? How do we begin to be anti-racist?

If you are white and you live in the U.S., take some time to open your heart and your eyes. Think about white privilege, and different examples of it.

Let me give you some examples of white privilege. If you are white, contemplate the following scenarios:

-do you fear for your life when being pulled over by the police?

-do you breathe a sigh of relief when your child made it home alive?

-do people follow you while you are shopping in a store?

-do women clutch their purse when they see you approaching?

-did you have "the talk" with your children?

White privilege is white people’s problem; it hurts black people, and it’s up to white people to fix it. If you are white, once you recognize that your experience in life is exponentially different to that of any black person in the United States, you can help bring about change.

In the past three months, Americans have come together to help on another in the pandemic. Now we must come together to fight for justice and equality. If you are unable to join the demonstrations or feel it is unsafe for you do so, find other ways to contribute.

Educate yourself on the experiences of black people in America. Make a donation to an organization that is working to bring about social change. Write a letter. Volunteer to help clean up the damage. Make purchases from black businesses.

Engage in discussions among friends and family. If you hear racist language or statements, have a dialogue about it. Work to bring about change in our laws. Support the end of the cash bail program. Work to end qualified immunity for police officers. Work to help those with previous criminal convictions to acquire the right to vote. Work to help end redlining and gerrymandering. Volunteer to work at the polls this November. VOTE!

On a personal note, as it is now June, it is now Pride month around the world. People who identify as LGBTQ+ or queer have begun to celebrate the month. I too will share pieces I have written for Pride. While we can celebrate, we must not forget that many are in crisis. It's important to remember that the first Pride was an uprising, led by black and brown people, as a result of unfair treatment by the police.

I have created two profile pictures for the month that celebrate Pride and convey that social change is still needed. If you are in the QTPOC community (Queer or Trans People of Color) or the LGBTQ+ communities, or are an ally, feel free to use them:

To my friends and family who are black, please know that many people are thinking about you, myself included. Replenish your spirit with whatever you need-silence, music, stillness, prayer, reading, meditation, creation, etc. Practice self-care. Fill your cup however you need to fill it. I am here for you, however you need me.

I will now leave you with some resources, (movies/tv shows/books), some wonderful images and videos, articles, and concrete ways to bring about social change.

The country is shattered. Black people do not have to die at the hands of police. Our fellow Americans need our help. What will you do to help bring about social change for black people in America?

Black Lives Matter. Change can't happen without you.

"Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we must condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality and humanity." -Martin Luther King Jr.

"It is a privilege to educate yourself about racism instead of experiencing it" -SirJohn

"Nothing can be changed until it is faced."-James Baldwin

"Peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of justice."

"Equal rights for others does not mean less rights for you. It's not pie."

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Resources:

*Movies/TV Shows:

-United Shades of America-HBO MAX, CNN, YouTube, Apple TV

-Season 1 episode 1-"The New KKK"

-Season 1 episode 4-"Protect and Serve?"

-Season 2 episode 1: "Immigrants and Refugees"

-Season 4 episode 2: "Not All White People"

-Season 4 episode 7: "#livingwhileblack"

https://www.cnn.com/shows/united-shades-of-america

-America Divided-EPIX

-Season 1 episodes 1 & 3

-Season 2 episode 4

https://americadividedseries.com/

-I am Not Your Negro-streaming, DVD

-"13th"-entire movie on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8

-"Sighted Eyes, Feeling Heart" on DVD, free streaming via Kanopy

https://www.sightedeyesfeelingheart.com/how-to-watch

-"Hello Privilege, It's Me Chelsea"-Netflix

"Accidental Courtesy"-Netflix

"When They See Us"-Netflix

"Finding Justice"-BET https://www.bet.com/shows/finding-justice.html

"Rest in Power: the Trayvon Martin Story"-Paramount Network

https://www.paramountnetwork.com/shows/rest-in-power-the-trayvon-martin-story

"Just Mercy"-now available to stream free of charge on Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, YouTube, and more

https://www.justmercyfilm.com/

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*Books:

-"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas (also a movie)

https://www.amazon.com/Hate-U-Give-Angie-Thomas/dp/0062498533

-"Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race" by Renni Eddo Lodge

https://www.amazon.com/Longer-Talking-White-People-About-ebook/dp/B06WWPX2YF

-"A Sin by Any Other Name: Reckoning with Racism and the Heritage of the South"-Reverend Robert W. Lee

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052557638X?tag=randohouseinc7986-20

-"When a Bully is President: Truth and Creativity for Oppressive Times" by Maya Gonzalez

https://www.amazon.com/When-Bully-President-Creativity-Oppressive/dp/1945289082/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1IDLUAT7RLHBJ&dchild=1&keywords=when+a+bully+is+president&qid=1591294416&s=books&sprefix=when+a+bully+i%2Cstripbooks%2C156&sr=1-1

-"Not My Idea-A Book About Whiteness (Ordinary Terrible Things)"-Anastasia Higginbotham

https://www.amazon.com/Not-My-Idea-Whiteness-Ordinary-ebook/dp/B08917VM2P

-"Unseen: Unpublished Black History from the New York Times Photo Archives"

https://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Unpublished-Black-History-Archives/dp/0316552968

-"Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock" by David Marglick

https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Hazel-Women-Little-Rock/dp/0300187920

-"The Color of Law: A Forgotten of how Our Government Segregated America"

https://www.amazon.com/Color-Law-Forgotten-Government-Segregated/dp/1631492853

-"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness"

https://www.amazon.com/New-Jim-Crow-Incarceration-Colorblindness/dp/1595586431

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*Articles:

-"Why You Need to Stop Saying 'All Lives Matter'"

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a27075028/black-lives-matter-explained/?fbclid=IwAR00y0FU2rUvUnygiPqJ__LOu4yNIcdRBiNAlNWAfguP1nwr5fLsZYV6938

-"Why Rage over George Floyd's Killing is More Explosive This Time"

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Why-the-anger-over-George-Floyd-s-killing-is-so-15307054.php

-"Qualified Immunity: Explained"

https://theappeal.org/qualified-immunity-explained/

-"Dear White People, Please Stop Saying You Don't See Color-That's a Lie"

https://www.leoweekly.com/2019/03/dear-white-people-please-stop-saying/

-“What You Need to Know About Ending Cash Bail”

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/criminal-justice/reports/2020/03/16/481543/ending-cash-bail/

-"New Bill Would Abolish Qualified Immunity"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicksibilla/2020/06/03/new-bill-would-abolish-qualified-immunity-make-it-easier-to-sue-cops-who-violate-civil-rights/#5515d3af6fbc
-"Talking About Race" web portal from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
https://nmaahc.si.edu/about/news/national-museum-african-american-history-and-culture-releases-talking-about-race-web?fbclid=IwAR2O0wLNp1ljhAWHTs9uUZZ5DVTZppPC0rmYjJ7ny_oBtzzGv-cEbC5KXTQ

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*How to Help:

-Southern Poverty Law Center: https://www.splcenter.org/

-NAACP: https://www.naacp.org/

-Equal Justice Initiative: https://eji.org/

-Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/

-Minnesota Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/

-Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/

-George Floyd Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

-Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/

-Reclaim the Block: https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home

-Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/

-Unicorn Riot: https://unicornriot.ninja/
-ALCU: https://www.aclu.org/
-The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/

-Live Free USA: https://www.livefreeusa.org/base

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