This moment
What to do when the world is unjust
Last Monday two things happened - two things that, during any other time in history would have scarcely registered for more than a day or two. We would have shaken our heads in dismay, perhaps participated in a protest, and then carried on as we do.
This time, however, against the backdrop of a worldwide Pandemic and an exhausted nation and world, things seem different.
This time, there seems to be a shifting awareness and acknowledgment; something bigger is happening in this moment. It seems as if it is an accumulation of moments that are finally bubbling over into a reckoning and a real change.
This time, it seems that IT does matter.
Black Lives Matter.
On Monday, May 25th, 2020 two events happened:
A white woman named Amy Cooper called 911 on a black man named Christian Cooper (no relation) who had asked her to leash her dog so as not to disturb the wildlife in an area of Central Park that required leashed dogs. In a dark twist of irony, Amy threatened to call 911 on Christian and claim that he was threatening her life and then proceeded to do just that by declaring to the 911 operator that “there’s an African American man threatening my life.”
That same day, a black man named George Floyd was killed by a white Minneapolis Police Officer named Derek Chauvin, who placed his knee on George’s neck for almost 9 minutes despite the pleas of George and onlookers that he couldn’t breathe. Three other officers on the scene, J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao did nothing to stop their colleague and two of them even appeared to be helping him by pressing their knees on George’s back.
Yes. It is difficult to read such descriptions.
But…
Imagine living it. Witnessing it. Fearing it on a daily basis.
Protests against police brutality, systemic inequality, and racism have emerged in hundreds of cities and towns in all 50 states in the United States. And around the world, we are seeing protests as well from London to Toronto, Berlin to Tehran.
Many of the peaceful protests have been met with a police presence that has been respectful, protective of the communities they serve, and supportive. But, we have also witnessed peaceful protests that have been met with police intimidation and violence in the form of tear-gassing, flash-bang grenades, pepper pellets, and the use of rubber bullets.
Over the course of the past week, some of these protests have splintered into bursts of tension and even violence whether out of sheer frustration, anger, and accumulated grief or from what appears to be a deliberate desire to incite mayhem and destruction or take advantage of a situation through looting and fires.
In all, we are left with one question:
Where do we go from here?
I saw a video of two black men expressing to each other their pain and desire to change the system that has been systematically stacked against them for generations. Their power is palpable. Their pain is real. And they debate the course of action that a 16-year-old black boy should take at this point in life. This moment in time holds three lives in its hands…three generations of black men against the backdrop of generations of fear, anger, and injustice.
The 45-year-old man is tired of taking all of the abuse. He is full of frustration and is ready to die for his cause.
The 31-year-old man is near tears as he takes hold of the older mans’ shoulders and acknowledges his pain. And then he beckons the 16-year-old black man/child to come forward and looking him straight in his eyes he pleads:
“What you see right now is gonna happen 10 years from now. And at 26 you’re gonna be doing the same thing I’m doing. You understand that?
So what I need you to do right now at 16 is come up with a better way. Cause how we’re doin’ it. It ain’t working.
He angry at 45. I’m angry at 31. You angry at 16.
You understand me?
Putting yourself in harm’s way is not the way. Come up with a better way. You keep yourself safe.”
This man, right here, spoke from the heart. He knows that the same kind of thinking will reap the same kind of results. True change comes about from a new way of seeing things and thus a new way of thinking.
As I white person, I have been privileged without even realizing or recognizing it. But if you, like me, wish to practice true allyship with those who have been marginalized for generations, we must come to terms with our own personal biases and prejudices. This can be difficult because we are often blind to our privilege and prejudice as they lie hidden beneath layers of conditioning and systemic institutions. But this is our work to do to create change. Are we going to be perfect? No. Will we make mistakes? No doubt. But we must try.
This moment is an invitation.
To Listen.
To Learn.
To Speak Up.
To Help.
And to open our hearts and change our minds.
In doing so, our society will change. And we will begin to resemble that which we always thought we were: FREE.
Thank you to my friend Alex who made me aware of this graduation speech from Donovan Livingston, Harvard Graduate. It is sure to open your heart and mind.
xx Lana