Speak Now and Never Hold Your Peace

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be better than anyone, nor do I claim to have it all correct. I still have much to learn. You don't even have to listen to what I have to say. I only claim to have compassion on the Black community who have unfairly suffered throughout history, and are still suffering today from systemic racism. I believe that saying nothing is indirectly telling others that this a small issue or that this is okay.

I know that everyone says silence can be dangerous - and I agree. However, I think it is important to be informed and really think about what you are saying. I could easily just share links, repost other people's content, and add a few relevant hashtags. However, sometimes when something blows up social media - too many people start posting the same exact content, so much that it starts to lose its effect. Individuals may start to get desensitized to the message. When I work with kids, repeating the same demand multiple times usually does not lead to compliance. Presenting the instruction in different ways or helping them understand what you want done - is usually a better way to go. Ok, maybe you don't relate to that example. What about this - have you ever had your mom nag you about the same thing over and over again? And somehow, the more she nagged you, the less you wanted to comply with her request? So, in some ways, I am concerned that some of these trendy hashtags and sayings may be doing more harm than good - even though it's with good intention. Instead of just posting the same things on social media to an anonymous audience, it may be more effective to have a genuine conversation about the violence, discrimination, and injustice that the Black community has faced due to systemic racism. It is more difficult to become desensitized when talking directly to someone - ideally a friend - where both sides have to listen. Every conversation is unique, whereas a post on social media can be recycled and repeated until it just becomes noise. The people who need to hear and be convinced of this message are likely not the people who are posting these messages or reading them on their social media. Caucasians - especially men - are the ones who have the power to solve this problem. Building genuine relationships with them is required to open their hearts and minds to recognize the errors of their people, which hopefully motivates them to take action to make changes in the system. However, antagonizing them will likely do the opposite.

Taking specific actions can also be helpful during this time. Find an organization that you support and donate to it. Do your research and find out more about the issues that the Black community is fighting for. Participate in a peaceful protest and sign some petitions. I know some people who have made resources that compiled important information to know, educational links, and relevant organizations or charities that you can support. Words matter, but they take on a much more significant meaning when they're accompanied by action.

In our society, it is so easy to get caught up in a phenomenon where people become saddened and outraged for a few weeks, and then move on with their lives as if nothing has happened (anyone watch Dear Evan Hansen?). I am genuinely worried that this is going to be the case. I have been questioning my intentions, to see if I am merely hopping on a bandwagon to simply make myself feel like a good person. Remember when everyone put a "Bell Let's Talk" filter on their profile picture? It felt like people cared about mental health just for that period of time - and then stopped talking about it. The devastating murder of George Floyd sparked the current large-scale protests and media attention on the matter of racially founded police brutality against Black individuals in America. However, Black people have been suffering for decades already; this is not the first time something like this has happened. It's just that this time, someone posted video evidence of it on the internet, so people outside of the Black community finally realize how serious this problem is and that they have the responsibility to help put a stop to it. So - I acknowledge that it is important to speak now, but it is even more important to continually speak out on injustices such as these, even when the shock over George Floyd's murder and the internet hype starts to go down.

To the Black community, I support you. I will never truly understand what your people have gone through, but I am angry on your behalf and I want to see change.