Hopefully the beginning of meaningful change.
I made the decision not to post last week. With everything going on in the world, it just felt like the right thing to do. I also didn’t feel like I could find the right words to sum up how I was feeling.
The protests we have seen over the last two weeks after the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, which have now spread around the world have given me this strange feeling of pride in the human race for standing up to this injustice and also shame that we have allowed it to reach this point.
Angela Davis said that it isn’t enough to be non-racist, you must be actively anti-racist and for the longest time I had that view, that me being non-racist was enough, but I now know that’s the wrong view to have. It isn’t enough.
I heard James Corden say “How can the black community dismantle a problem that they didn’t create?” which really hit home. This is a time that needs everyone to come together and fight these issues.
I am really hoping that this is the beginning of a major change. I haven’t found the words to explain it yet but this feels different, it feels like this is the start of something big. I really hope it is.
These last few weeks have really highlighted to me the privilege I have in this world as a straight white man. It has made me realise that I need to use the platform and the privilege I have to raise awareness and fight for causes that matter.
Whether you go out and protest or you stay home, sign petitions and donate to causes, it doesn’t matter. As long as you are doing something, that’s what matters.
Below are a few links if you’re wondering where you can help.
Donation and petition links — https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/black-lives-matter-protest-support-george-floyd-donate-petition-a9542576.html
A reading list to understand race and dismantle racism — https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/june/racism-black-lives-matter-antiracist-reading-list-books/
I’ll be back next week with the usual themes. If there is anything I got wrong in this post then please let me know. I want to learn and help as much as I possibly can.
Stay safe, see you next week.
