black lives matter
this is worth repeating and not just retweeting: Black Lives Matter.
who am i saying this to? i am saying this to any of my non-black friends or readers being quiet right now for the purpose of remaining “neutral” or “unbiased” on their platforms, big or small. do not pretend like there is a stance to take in a movement that should not be controversial.
in journalism school, we’re taught this notion of staying neutral on social media platforms. let me be clear to anyone using the adage to stay quiet right now: it is not political to say that you value equality and life. it is not political to ask for change in a world filled with racism. it is not controversial to mourn george floyd’s life and want justice for the black community. most importantly, it is not political to all of take those statements and turn them into action immediately.
this all being true, i don’t want to pretend like i can teach in this moment. i have been incredibly humbled by my limited scope of understanding the full extent of racial injustice over the past week (and decades). it is not a moment for me, or any other non-black people, to act like we understand or to grab the microphone or write the thought piece. instead, it is a moment for non-black people to admit we don’t know enough.
allies don’t create or control the curriculum, they learn it, process it, and voice it to others who may not understand. i can’t emphasize this enough: i don’t know enough. and i’m learning to be a better ally every day.
make your activism (donations, posts, hashtags, actions) make sense. continue to educate yourself. with that, i want to offer the following resources around being a better ally. this is a living list so please send suggestions as well:
how to make this moment the turning point for real change
how to check in on black friends and loved ones
for those who can’t protest, here are ways to support the movement
desi-americans, know your history
understand the model minority myth
to a better future,
n