I used to think as a non-Black person that my only role was to read/listen to Black voices and like/retweet posts by Black people. I now realize that I was wrong and that by not using my own voice, I was letting fear win. I will always support/listen to Black voices because their voices matter the most in conversations about their communities, but I must also speak up, especially when police are murdering Black people like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, and too many more. Black lives matter all the time.
Don't praise me for posting this message. Instead, support/listen to Black voices and speak up when needed. Here's a very non-exhaustive list of things that I and other non-Black people can do to support the Black community on a regular basis: ~Recognize our own shortcomings in being antiracist and avoid asking/expecting Black people to provide free emotional labor. Instead, on our own or with the help of non-Black friends, research and figure out ways to do better. It's never too late to prove we can do better. (I personally need to read more non-fiction books by Black people and remember to speak up when I see racism, even if it's not overt racism). ~Support organizations led by/heavily involving Black people that work toward justice like Black Lives Matter and TGIJP. ~Read non-fiction books by Black people about racism including, but not limited to Stamped and The New Jim Crow. Additionally, read books by Black people in other genres that further humanize Black people and their experiences. The Black community is very diverse and intersects with lots of other communities. Everyone has their own beliefs and stories to tell. ~Recognize that if we're more upset about Black people being angry and less focused on what they're angry about, we need to re-examine our own perceptions. Supporting/listening to Black people should be the default. ~Don't just support Black people when they're sad/angry, but also support them when they're happy. ~Call out racism and anti-Blackness, even if it's not blatant racism. Little things can sometimes add up to a lot of negative stereotypes and harm. ~If someone calls out something we said/did, remember that impact often matters more than intent, that we're human and humans make mistakes, and that it's never too late to prove we can do better. PS. While this post is focused on supporting the Black community, a lot of what I said can be adapted to center on supporting Queer/Trans people, Native people, undocumented immigrants, womxn, and other marginalized populations.
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AuthorI'm Darcy Ridge, creating stories that all revolve around family and identity in a myriad of ways. In the past, I have shared multiple stories and published a novella online. You can find me on Wattpad and many other social media websites. They/them [Image Description: black background with the words "Social Justice and Mental Health Resources" in white in the center /end ID]
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