(image source unknown)
Through art, through music, through literature, we express ourselves. We find solace in a world of malice. So we create. We survive, we thrive, we exist. A time for change has come. That time is now. We cannot just "exist". We must exist boldly and brightly. The world needs change. The systems need change. We can no longer be silent about the harsh realities of racism that infiltrates the world around us. We can no longer be the source of inspiration in all forms of art and American culture, yet be dismissed in our cries. The wall that was built to divide us is now being destroyed brick by brick. This is a world where millions are suppressed by white supremacy, colorism, racism and more. While its an uncomfortable space, that we elevate from, its time to align our frequencies and create one vibration of peace, love and equality.
(Image by David Urbanke)
Systemic racism create divides in quality of education, health, and generational wealth that POC are able to acquire. These systems have been in place for so long that they are so American, that when we protest the unfairness, people believe we are protesting America. Since when ever, in the history of America, have we not lobbied for change. From the American War to Feminism to The Civil Rights Movement. Sometimes you have to shake sh*t up to open the door to a new beginning, a new way of life.
We want equality and we want it now.
We want healthcare, we want black economics, we want peace, we want safety, we want healing from the trauma that racism has inflicted on generations dating back to slavery. Over 400 years and counting.
The very systems in place now, are the very systems that white supremacy benefits off of, and poc suffer from. Its time for change. Its time for the people to come together on both sides and revolt. We can't turn our eyes to racism and then lobby for feminism. We can't turn our eyes to racism, then protest abuse of animals or high taxes, or wage gaps. The whole patriarchy must be disrupted. Evil is a disease that can bleed over and spread like a plague. Where you believe it is not your problem, the evil can spread and at some point or time start to be YOUR problem. We cannot, we must not, tell an oppressed people, how to grieve, how to revolt, how to deal with their trauma, how to protest, how to express their pain. It is not your story to be told, it is not your reality to be lived. BUT, what you can do is support the movement, support change. It is more than a donation, it is active change to be made in our everyday lives. Let's come together. The revolution will be televised. History will be made.
(Image by Sethnocentric)
Here are some tips that can help support POC, your journey to change, and to be apart of the solution:
1. Research: Read as many books as you can, watch as many documentaries by BLACK/POC authors about their stories, their reality, their voices.
2. Learn politics, learn economics, learn the REAL history of America.
3. Have open and honest conversations with your fellow comrades and listen to their stories. LISTEN.
4. Make a list including the changes you can make everyday in your communities, at your job, at your school. How can we make change in these systems that privilege has allowed you to benefit from, while oppressing others?
5. How many people around you, solely look like you, act like you, talk like you? How many people of color exist in your workspace, in your classes, in your community? How can we create more diversity and inclusion.
We can never get comfortable with other races, ethnicities, religions, genders, until we learn to integrate more, connect more and have more conversations.
We all need to self reflect. We all need to relearn outside of what we have been taught. We need to break the social constructs and conditioning. We all need to listen more, to love more, to meditate more, to connect more, to heal more, to come together and fight. All lives cannot matter if black lives and POC lives do not matter.