Looking at the year 2020 thus far, we can all, collectively, see that it’s been absolute chaos. We’ve had scares about a possible world war, natural disasters, deaths of significant people and we are currently facing a pandemic. As days pass by, more truths are being revealed and more issues are surfacing. Many individuals are becoming aware of the soul-crushing crises in Yemen, Palestine, and Afghanistan. They are discovering the frightening possibilities of the government in the Philipines. Additionally, people are finally opening their eyes to structural racism, police brutality, and racial injustice against people of color but more specifically, black individuals. Events have turned so foul that individuals around the world realized that despite this pandemic, it is necessary to fight for justice and to take a stand. Hence, the Black Lives Matter movement progressed and became even more recognized worldwide. Many individuals have shown their outrage regarding the death of George Floyd through the movement of Black Lives Matter. George Floyd was one of the countless black individuals who died due to the color of their skin. He died through asphyxiation in which the cop, Derek Chauvin, rested his weight on this individual by keeping his knee on Floyd’s neck causing him to pass away through the suffocation. The death of George Floyd was merely the tip of the iceberg, uncovering the many incidents and years of pain and oppression suffered by black individuals in America. However, truthfully speaking, racism is not just personal to America, and through this movement, we should understand that racism and anti-blackness, itself, is a pandemic. Although this is something many individuals should have known from before, their privilege has protected them from ever being aware of such a concept.
Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Jordan Edwards, Tony McDade, Walter Lamar Scott, João Pedro, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, and the names go on. All of these are the names that belong to innocent individuals who were brutally killed for their appearance. Most of these persons have not received the justice they deserve and their murderers are currently walking freely. The Black Lives Matter movement exists to advocate the violence and injustice faced by the Black community and focuses on countering these acts of violence by creating a space that supports the creation, happiness, imagination, and hard work of all Black lives. All Black lives include the black LGBTQIA+ community, black women, black disabled folks, and more. This movement exists to fight systemic racism and oppression to see a society filled with genuine justice and equality. All lives cannot matter until Black lives matter and individuals should understand that saying “Black lives matter” isn’t replacing the idea that all lives matter but is spreading awareness regarding the targeted issue. This movement is not made to invalidate the experiences of others. However, by saying “All Lives Matter” you are invalidating the hardships faced by black individuals and are refusing to acknowledge the issues being faced by the Black community.
Racism doesn’t just lie within comments being thrown at one another, it’s more than that. Racism has been ingrained within the system and is the foundation in which our society has been built upon. Structural racism is a system in which public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and other norms work in various ways to perpetuate racial group inequity. This is primarily characterized by white supremacy impacting BIPOC groups adversely. Racism is prevalent across institutions such as the wealth gap, housing, employment, surveillance, education, healthcare, and more. Structural racism prevents or makes it more challenging for people of color to participate in society and the economy. In terms of employment, black unemployment rates have been twice as higher than that of whites for the past 60 years. Black drivers are 30 percent more likely to get pulled over by the police in comparison to white people. Redlining is the systematic denial of various services to residents of specific neighborhoods or communities. The effects of redlining are still prevalent today where BIPOC individuals are shown and told about fewer homes than white individuals.
There’s a chance that we’ve all heard the following quote ‘It is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist’. However, just hearing this is not enough. We must understand it and apply it to our daily lives. Never think that you can’t assist in this situation and that this situation does not affect you. As stated multiple times, racism is a global issue, and one way or another every single person is being affected by it. Maybe your privilege allows you to experience the benefits of racism but other persons are receiving the true disadvantageous factors from this issue. Despite living far away, you too, can join the movement and create a revolution that the oppressed have been fighting for. Maybe you’re unable to attend the protests, but you can still sign the multiple petitions, donate, support black businesses, spread awareness, educate yourself, and correct others when making racist remarks. To dismantle racism, there are so many things we can do. We must unlearn the lies taught to us by society and form new perspectives. How can you learn? There are various resources online that you can use whether it is a book, tv show, an article, or anything else. Here’s a shortlist:
Shows:
13th
When They See Us
Dear White People
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap
Books:
White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Podcasts:
About Race
The Diversity Gap
Seeing White
1619
Key Terms for Google Search:
Racial Capitalism
Microaggression
Racial Wealth Gap
Institutional Racism
You can find more resources, donation sites, petitions regarding black lives matter on the following website as well: blacklivesmatters.carrd.co
This article is just a small overview concerning the Black Lives Matter movement and the concept of racism. I encourage you to read more about this movement and use all the resources available in this article. I also encourage you to look beyond these resources and do your research on this entire issue by investigating more on systemic racism, prison industrial complex, model minority myth, structural inequality in education and so much more. Read various trustworthy resources and form an educated opinion of yours concerning what’s going on. Remaining ignorant during these times is a choice when you have access to multiple resources. Do not remain silent or turn a blind eye to matters of inequality and be part of the revolution. Black lives matter is not a trend, it’s a movement. While we can turn away from this issue whenever we’d like, this is an excruciating reality to many. Use your voice and your power to help create a change. To educate yourself on issues around the world and assist in them in any way possible, please visit: issuesintheworld.carrd.co
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