Your Black colleagues need allies now more than ever: Be one
Posting a well-intentioned black square to social with no concrete action ignores entrenched racism. Your black colleagues need allies in this fight. Be one.
Every day people mourn in infinite ways across the globe; over the past year, much of the world has mourned together. At the same time, there are swaths of joy that move through neighborhoods and communities: Brides walk down aisles, toddlers take first steps, teenagers come out and are accepted, letters get delivered, and meals are shared.
But amid the sorrow we’ve collectively experienced, there’s a kind of grief that many of us cannot imagine; a grief that selects or spares people simply based upon the color of their skin.
And that reality is both unconscionable and unsustainable.
Black lives matter: All day, every day
It’s been ten months since the death of George Floyd sent shockwaves around the world.
https://twitter.com/hannah_natanson/status/1268319734833053696?s=20
This week, all eyes are once again upon downtown Minneapolis, as the trial of Derek Chauvin came to a close and was sent to the jury on Monday, April 19th.
The trial itself has resurfaced trauma, especially for Black people, as Fabiola Cineas explains in her story for Vox:
“For the public who watched Floyd’s death on their screens, the trial has been similarly retraumatizing, particularly for the Black Americans who have grown familiar with how casually America handles Black death, and who are well aware of the country’s long history of brutalizing Black people. On Twitter, some users have resorted to muting any news about the trial, in an effort to shut out more pain.”
It’s time to recognize the humanity of Black lives
https://twitter.com/Nikki_T/status/1381585436997529600
Things we can do:
Even as it seems insurmountable to conquer the hate and blame, you can help.
- Listen. Pay attention to what black people are saying. Pay attention to what white people are saying. Do not allow the imbalance to be perpetuated by laying blame on the shoulders of those whose lives have been cut short.
- Amplify. Use your platform, whether it is social media or your front porch, to lift up the voices of people of color.
- Learn. Before you use a saying, ask yourself, “Do I really know what this means?” For example, “cakewalk.” Do you use it? Do you know its origin is tied to slavery and mockery?
- Donate and invest. Support black-owned businesses, hire black people, give to black-run and black-focused non-profit organizations.
- Discover history and art. Is your nightstand filled with white authors? Your Netflix watch list filled with white acted, white produced, white directed content? Seek out different stories.
Start your allyship.
Because we have to start somewhere.
- Sign up to learn how to intervene during racially charged harassment.
- Study how to be an ally.
- Learn more about how to be an ally.
- Support the Brooklyn Community.
- Learn about the criminal justice system.
