The fact that ‘Black Lives Matter’ is a controversial statement is indicative of how deeply racist our world is.
It may be hard, but it is vital that white people acknowledge what is happening, and use our privilege to fight against it.
To my white friends: you may have been finding it easy to stand against phrases, but I hope that you cannot stand against the faces of the innocent Black people that have been unjustly murdered in this montage by @kenslerb on Instagram.
This is week 2 of white people experiencing this amount of racism. This is week 20857 of black people experiencing this amount of racism.
Our allyship is not a one time thing. We cannot post one black square on Instagram and think our work is done. We need to make a lifelong commitment to educating ourselves, listening, and standing against racism. Many have used this quote from Angela Davis recently, because it does apply:
“In a racist society, is not enough to be non racist. We must be anti-racist”
For those who think this is only an American issue:
- The 2011 London riots were in response to the police murder of Mark Duggan
- Shukri Abdi, Sarah Reed, Nunu Cardosa, Edson da Costa, Rashan Charles, Belly Mujinga, Julian Cole are some of many. Look them up. Speak their names.
- UK were repaying debts to slave owners at a loss of money after slavery being abolished up until 2015. That came from taxpayers money. Your money.
- Ask yourself why we are not taught about our history with racism in schools growing up. Why don’t we know about the Bristol Bus Boycott, the 1958 Notting Hill Riots, the MacPherson Report? I didn’t know about them until this week. I’m still learning. We all will be.
For those concerned about violence during protests: remember that we are literally protesting violence in the first place, from police officers to Black citizens. That is the injustice we are fighting.
For those concerned about property destruction: this is an age old, tried and tested form of protest that even Jesus took part in (Synoptic Gospels). There is also growing evidence that destruction and looting is largely the cause of white people, and even police. Remember, buildings can be rebuilt. The lives taken by the police cannot be. Small businesses will receive the support they need; and who wants statues of racists up in their hometown anyway?
The people are protesting police brutality. And the police are responding with brutality.
Here is a google doc with video evidence of over 367 examples of the police enforcing violence unnecessarily just over the past two weeks of protests.
You could argue that in the face of violence from civilians, what other way could a police officer be supposed to react than with violence themselves?
Let’s compare the police to nurses.
Nurses will come across violent people almost every single day. People under the influence of drugs, alcohol, with mental illnesses etc etc. And they have to keep calm in the face of that. If they do not, they will lose their job. Why is that same, simple context not applied to the police?
What can we do?
Educate yourselves, sign petitions and donate where you can. I’ve included a list at the end of this post. Remember, it’s ok to not be right as long as you have the intention of learning how to be.
Check out this ‘How to Help’ menu from the Black Lives Matter organisation.
Check out this google doc of how to help BLM from the UK.
Write to your MP now – templates are available widespread if needed. Demand:
- immediate suspension of UK sales of teargas, riot shields and rubber bullets to the US
- condemn Trump’s use of force against his own citizens
- Justice for Belly Mujinga
- release the delayed report into BAME Covid-19 deaths
Find your MP here: https://members.parliament.uk/constituencies/
If you are protesting, wear masks, remain as socially distanced as possible (my friends in Oxford have been doing this well). Remember, if cases spike in a couple of weeks, nobody said anything about those flocking to the beaches; and two weeks ago the government reopened our schools and told those who were sheltering from Covid they could go outside.
EDUCATION
Films:
Get Out
Do the Right Thing
I am Not Your Negro
12 Years a Slave
Just Mercy
Detroit
Blackkklansman
Selma
Blindspotting
13th – watch for free on Netflix’s official YouTube channel
TV:
Dear White People
When They See Us
Brooklyn Nine-Nine ep. 4.16 “Moo Moo”
Books:
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Discourse on Colonialism by Aimé Césaire
From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
White Privilege: The Myth of a Post-Racial Society by Kalwant Bhopal
PETITIONS
Petition to Teach British children about the realities of British Imperialism and Colonialism
Twitter Thread of other Petitions to Sign
fivethreeninety 