In the past couple days I realized that I hadn't formally edited pictures from the Black Lives Matter protest last July in the wake of the shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
As a white man coming away from that event at the Texas State Capitol in Austin I remember feeling that it's on us white people to end the racial disparities that people of color face every day. It's on us to "limit police interventions, improve community interactions, and ensure accountability." It's on us to reform incarceration practices, to ensure employment, to ensure access to pre-natal care and insurance, to increase high school graduation, college graduation, and access to advanced degrees... the list goes on.
These feelings were deeply felt before Obama left office. And, this administration with Confederate Jeff at the helm of the Attorney General's office pushing for antebellum policing and punishment tactics is just the biggest reminder that your silence as a white person equals consent. It's on us as white people to be out rallying for people of color, for immigrants, for people who are transgender, and for women. It's on us to speak to our kids, our families and colleagues about the injustices our brothers and sisters in our communities are facing.
Resources:
- Subscribe to and listen to the podcast Politically Reactive with W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu
- Join Campaign Zero that seeks to end police violence in America
- Find a Black Lives Matter group in your area and just listen. You don't have to be out in the front leading the line.
- Find a Solidarity Sunday group in your area
- Look into Undoing White Supremacy Austin's resources and workshops
- Listen to the Fresh Air segment on how the US Government put policies in place to further segregate America
- Subscribe to the Pod Save the People podcast for ongoing updates about issues affecting vulnerable people in our communities
- Join and/or donate to Color of Change a group committed to empower Black Americans and our allies to make government more responsive to the concerns of Black Americans and to bring about positive political and social change for everyone.
- United We Dream is the first and largest national immigrant youth-led organization fighting for relief and fair treatment for all undocumented immigrants.
- Race Forward: They create awesome videos that are easily digestible and share-able about advancing "racial justice through research, media and practice".
At the end of the day I know that my speaking up for others lets friends, family, and colleagues know where I stand and adds another drop in the bucket on the scales of change.
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