Sometimes words just aren’t enough. Odd coming from a writer, but it’s true. Saying, “Black Lives Matter,” doesn’t feel like it’s actually doing enough for black lives. Actions speak louder than words. It is about what we do for black people in this world, to help level the playing field, that can change lives.
What should people like me, white people, be doing? First, get educated. There are plenty of resources available online and through public libraries. Books like, Me and White Supremacy, So You Want to Talk About Race, and many others are great starting points to learn to look internally at ourselves.
Let me tell you right away, it’s not easy. It’s really uncomfortable. However, if you push through and take time to read or listen, really absorb what’s being said and not how you want to interpret it, you can learn a lot.
Learning will be a continuous journey and it won’t stop as we become more knowledgeable or as black lives change for the better. It will have to be a constant, conscious decision we make everyday.
You can also help by giving and/or participating in businesses and organizations. From shopping at black-owned businesses to giving to civil right’s organizations, there are numerous options to choose. I won’t go through every one of them, but I will highlight one that I believe would be a good organization, not just due to their work, but their educational resources.
The Equal Justice initiative is an excellent resource for information about racial injustice. The link will send you to a donation page, but please take the time to learn more about them on their site.
With all organizations that you give to, do research and make sure you feel comfortable with them. You want to make sure the money and support you give is going to the right place.
However, the best support you can give is to your local community members. Ask around and you would be surprised how many black owned business and organizations are in your area.
One last way to support black lives, which does take a collective effort, is through law changes. Reviewing our laws and how they are applied to the people is an important task not just for lawmakers that we elect, but for ourselves as well. We should be evaluating the success and purpose of the laws enacted and see if there is either room for improvement or a need for stricter (and fairer) enforcement.
As we’ve seen today, it should not be controversial to seek out potential changes to the law. The heated issues of today have been part of the past mistakes for longer than many of us care to admit. Changes to law could alleviate and help align the playing field, even if just a little. And yes, I know this is political, something I truly don’t enjoy, but it’s important to mention. If laws like the Civil Rights Act 1964 and changes to the 13th and 15th Amendments were not accomplished, there would still be millions of people still thought of as property to be bought and sold. Issues of civil and social rights must go beyond the political and we must look at people from the lens of a shared humanity, with as much humility as possible.
I hope this helps some people look closer at themselves and how they can help make themselves better as a person and make the world better for everyone.
May we all keep our hearts and ears open to those who need to be heard most.
-J.J.