June 10th, 2020
Re: The State Sanctioned murder of George Floyd
Dear Allies,
I am so enlivened by your enthusiasm and understandable outrage over the past week. This nation has been abused. Abused by the president, and abused by the institutions that have allowed him to come to power.
I am ELATED by the volume of people asking for information, seeking advice, & educating themselves on this nations’ bloody history.
A word of caution;
Do not confuse all of this self learning and discovery for the WORK that lies ahead of us. Yes, be informed! Question what you think you know and seek answers from a diverse group of sources (black people approved). That will give you clarity about why this fight is worth fighting for. Defending black bodies is to defend the inalienable rights of every disenfranchised group on this planet. Defending black bodies is an ongoing tooth and nail battle for basic universal human rights.
I respect and adore all the people I see coming together protesting in defense of #BlackLivesMatter. This is a valuable contribution. The whole world can see & agrees that this movement MATTERS!
Do not let this march be your sole contribution.
Becoming an ally in the fight for equality requires continued daily ACTIONS along with continued education. What you DO makes the difference. So, call your congressmen & your governors. Embark on difficult compassionate conversations with your loved ones. Take a vested interest in how your local government is structured. Recruit allies, change laws, stay healthy, & vote. Find creative ways to incite change within your circles of influence. If you read my letter to my high school then you know my stance on this global shift. As you continue to learn and let your voice be heard know that individuals, families, communities, businesses, cities, states, countries, & Institutions will all be forced to explicitly define their moral stance on our modern day social injustices. Hold everyone to account. Most of all yourself.
What can you do to make this work a daily habit? Who can you recruit to help you grow forward from here? Which businesses, relationships, institutions from your past can you apply pressure to to get them to not only declare #BlackLivesMatter but also hold them accountable for changing institutional policy and demand they contribute to influential community outreach?
None of the black bodies that you’re marching for needs or wants performative activism. Marching is not meant to make anyone feel better. The selfies at the march are not at all what the march is about. Don’t think that this is a fun get together and finally be social after months in isolation. Don’t think that because we marched we ‘showed them’. We’re in a pandemic & black bodies are still getting killed by law enforcement. What legislative policy and community engagement ACTIONS did you claim responsibility over?
What you stand for is ultimately a reflection of the power you exert over your guilt. Please know that I am not wishing guilt upon you. I know that our current circumstances are the result of white supremacist greed from our mutual past. I don’t blame any allies for our history. I ache for our shared historical trauma and I know that guilt happens to be one of the primary manifestations in my white allied friends. That’s ok. I love you still. Please don’t be consumed by it. Instead, use it to motivate you into ACTION, but don’t settle for a march or a contrite letter to a black friend to attain absolution.
Dismantle & reform institutions.
From now until your dying day - Vote.