White people, it's time to show up. Black lives matter.



This is not the kind of post I usually write, but recent events have unsettled me to such an extent that I have decided to say something. I don’t want to take away from the voices of black people who are speaking out on this issue, but it is so important that we use our privilege to join the fight against racism, and so that is what I’m trying to do by speaking out on this issue. However, I will make sure to link to people of colour who are wording this far better than I ever could, as it is even more important to use our privilege to amplify their voices.

In the past few days, the topic of racism has made headlines, not for the first time. In the past few days, an innocent black man was brutally murdered by police, senselessly and in cold blood. Again, this is not the first time. This grown man was pleading with the policeman for mercy, begging to be released, crying out for water, making it known that he couldn’t breathe, yet his murderer did not relent, even as he lay there dying. People of colour spend their lives being senselessly victimised, attacked, and brutalised, for no reason beyond that of the colour of their skin. And it’s not just happening in America. It’s happening all over the world, including here in the UK. Racism is inherent in our society, it’s built into our power structures. Racist attacks happen every day, and we, as white people, are not doing enough to help.

As a white person, I have always been aware that I will be awarded privileges that people of other races will not have access to, and I can’t even begin to express how unjust and awful that is. I should not have more opportunities than someone else just because of the colour of my skin. Although I would like to think I’ve always been aware of my white privilege, I have become increasingly aware of it over the years, as horrendous things such as the cold-blooded murder of George Floyd have started to be reported on in the mainstream media more and more frequently. It’s time I used that privilege to stand up for the people who are being oppressed. I may not have a huge platform, but I will use whatever platform I do have to speak up for the people who can’t. For the murdered. For the oppressed. For the marginalised.

It is unbelievable that black people are forced to feel unsafe around policemen, afraid of the very people who are supposed to protect them. It is disgusting. The worst thing is that when these awful things happen, when these people are murdered, the policemen responsible are rarely held accountable for what they have done. Why are we not holding people to account for MURDER? How, in a supposedly civilised society, are we allowing these abhorrent crimes to continue to happen? Every time another black person is killed, there is uproar, yet within weeks it is almost forgotten about. That needs to stop. These people need justice. They need their oppressors to be convicted for what they have done. We are not doing enough. Don’t let George Floyd become just another name. It is time to stand up and fight for justice. We need to be better allies to the black community, to all groups who are oppressed by the existence of white supremacy. And the time to do so is now. We’ve already been quiet for too long.

Resources and accounts to learn more about this issue, as well as petitions for justice, are linked below:
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge, available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Longer-Talking-White-People-About/dp/1408870584
Me and White Supremacy – Layla F. Saad, available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Me-White-Supremacy-Recognise-Privilege/dp/1529405106
White Fragility – Robin Diangelo, available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism/dp/0141990562/ref=sr_1_1?crid=A9PFYN1DLX7X&dchild=1&keywords=white+fragility+robin+diangelo&qid=1590925622&s=books&sprefix=white+fragili%2Cstripbooks%2C153&sr=1-1
Accounts: @iamrachelricketts @laylafsaad @rachel.cargle @sassy_latte @munroebergdof @ajabarber @monachalabi @candicebrathwaite @nowhitesaviors @mattmcgorry @renieddolodge
Justice for George Floyd petition: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd
Demand justice for George Floyd petition: http://amn.st/6182GEjQe?fbclid=IwAR29t2Zt3f1iTglLr4GnKiaA1BcQMMdZI40YqQCBeq54BdjkYiBMK1j5Dfc
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

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