Enough is enough.
We’ve all said it in the last few weeks. We’ve had enough. Enough of what is the main difference between us.
What have you had enough of?
Some of us have had enough of black men and women dying senselessly at the hands of morally bankrupt police officers. Some of us have had enough of looters stealing and protesters destroying historic statues.
Which side are you on? Depends on how you see the world.
Let’s assume for a moment that racism and inequality bothers everyone. And it does, in theory. It bothers most people when they look at a photo from 1902 of a man hanging from a tree and think to themselves “Oh my god, those white people were savages. I’m not like that.” Nobody says “I’m a Racist”, right? Ok, only the super crazies do. I don’t know anyone like that (that I know of) They aren’t related to me. Just the light racists. But here’s the thing. A racist is a racist.
About a year ago, I was at a family wedding and a racist comment was made to my cousin’s non-white fiancé. We all were embarrassed by the comment so I didn’t confront the white woman who said it. And the young woman who is still engaged to my cousin didn’t condemn our entire family as racists (though, she could have). She made the decision not to make a generalization about our family. She went high, when we went low.
Today, I regret not saying something. Getting involved felt aggressive. I don’t want her “to feel bad” because I made the assumption that she was embarrassed by her cruel comment. It felt like getting involved with something that didn’t belong to me. But I was wrong. When a racist comment goes unchecked, it’s accepted. I will not be silent anymore and I won’t ever make that mistake again.
Our black brothers and sisters need solidarity. They need allies. Speaking up is the right thing to do because no racist behavior is acceptable.
Tonight, some of us will watch “the news” and feel anger and frustration at people who are marching to raise awareness for much needed police reform in Seattle and Milwaukee and our entire country. You’ve missed the point of the protests. “Yeah…. ok, that cop killed a man… BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LOOTING? Yeah, the cop killed a man, BUT WHAT ABOUT PRESERVING HISTORIC STATUES?” Yeah, the cop killed a man, BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE GOOD COPS?” Protesting is American. We are protesting because it’s the best tool available to us. We are sayin: ENOUGH. I WANT THE WORLD TO CHANGE SO I’M CHOOSING TO SHOW UP FOR BLACK PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED FAIRLY. Period. So stop pointing out all the ways the protesters are getting it wrong. Stop posting ‘White Lives Matter’ messages on Facebook to create a reaction from your liberal friends and family. Stop. Be quiet. Listen to the voices that haven’t had equal airtime. Black Lives Matter. Black Voices Matter.
These are not easy conversations to have. But they are worth having so we can stop the endless cycle of violence and unfairness against black people.
Want to take the first step? Great! Educating yourself is a good place to start.
I watched a documentary called True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality that is streaming free on YouTube. The film shows how white people (good people) stood by and did nothing in 1900 when black people were lynched “because they weren’t even worth putting through the legal system” so white men killed them to teach them a lesson. Today, black people are incarcerated at more than 5 times the rate of whites. The imprisonment rate for black women is twice that of white women. We don’t lynch black people. We send them to jail. Systemic racism in action. This is why we march.
None of us is free until all of us are free.
So. We can’t leave anyone behind. We need everyone because enough is enough. Black people are not treated fairly in our country. Fairness starts with us. It starts with telling the truth about who we are. I’m looking at you, Brian. I’m looking at you, Steve. I’m looking at you, Mary. We need to all be part of the solution so we can all be free.
What have you done to extend help to your fellow black American today? If you say “nothing”, then you are part of the problem. It’s that simple. You can no longer shake your head at the news and say “Oh, that’s too bad.” Now is the time to act. Get out of your comfort zone. My cousin, Amy helped to organize a march in her predominately white suburban neighborhood. That’s taking action! It’s a risk to extend yourself for another person. To empathize with the sufferer, and show up. And it’s inspiring! Amy is part of the solution! Be like Amy!
If marching isn’t really your thing, that’s ok. There’s a deadly virus being passed from person to person. It’s understandable. But that doesn’t excuse you from doing nothing.
Here’s some action steps:
- Find a local march and experience the solidarity of marching with your neighbors who are also taking a stand and saying “enough is enough”
- Donate to NAACP and/or Equal so black people get fair representation in our country
- Have conversations with your family and friends to ask how they are part of the solution
- Watch this documentary about why this is happening and the history of racism in the United States
- Read a book that helps you to understand racism better. Here’s a few titles to get you started:
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
- How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
- Eloquent Rage by Brittany Cooper
No judgment. No “what took you so long to see the light?” We need everybody. Join us. Be part of the solution instead of part of the problem because there is no middle. Choose a side. I hope you choose love and equality for all.
betsyrowbottom 