This is a statement from a former student and current friend:
The Black Lives Matter movement has never tried to bring erasure for another group. Our goal has been to highlight the injustices, discrimination, and lack of devotion to protect our wellbeing. For those who are out protesting to show we all demand change, to those donating, and to those simply helping to bring awareness and hold the conversations that’s been avoided for too long now, I wanted to say thank you. I know you didn’t do it for attention or to get a thank you, but personally from me to each person working to say we’ve had enough whether you’ve been in my shoes or not, black people come out of the womb pretty much told what to do and what not to do and how to “stay in our place” to stay safe and off the radar. Because of this, often times we feel unseen or learn that we aren’t AS valued as others and to accept that’s just the way it is. And while I’ve personally never let that stop me from trying to be the loudest in the room and working to break glass ceilings, since the death of George Floyd many have viewed this as a dark time for our country but I have never felt more seen or valued, just from personally being a part of protests and looking around to witness that we are no longer treating this as just a black issue. To see our generation refusing to stay silent and taking matters into our hands to demand change and see other communities come together to say we see you, we hear you, and we’re standing with you is all it takes to make someone around you know that you acknowledge them and value their life. Remember to stay safe and participate or give in any way you know how, but your silence speaks louder than anything and contributes to the problem that has gone on for far too long.
Here are some links because I think we've all heard enough of my voice for now.
for education:
- https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-death-of-george-floyd-in-context
- https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/racism-african-americans-quiz.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/timeline.htm#:~:text=It%20was%20called%20the%20%E2%80%9CTuskegee,benefit%20of%20patients'%20informed%20consent.
for donations:
- https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
- https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud
- https://www.innocenceproject.org/about/
- https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home
for scholarships:
- https://www.ronbrown.org/
- https://www.jackierobinson.org/support/
- https://www.nhbwjoliet.com/support-us
for reading:
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- This Is Just My Face by Gabourey Sidibe
- Just Mercy - free to rent on Amazon Prime Video
- When They See Us - on Netflix
- Moonlight - on Netflix
- Whose Streets? - on Hulu
DISCLAIMER: These are not "feel good" viewings because this is not a "feel good" time.
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