Where Do You Stand?…

As we sit and watch groups of people rally together and protest the injustices to Black People, where do YOU stand?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you’re on social media then you have a platform to show where you stand. If you have personal accounts and business accounts, you have a platform to show where you stand, on BOTH accounts…no pun intended. Every day I wake up I see your accounts in my news feed, sometimes I jump over to the page/account of those I would expect to have a voice on this matter and nothing…nothing posted, nothing mentioned, not even a shared Black Lives Matter post for goodness sake…simply nothing. Am I in shock? A bit to be honest, but that’s because I expect more from these people and their businesses. They can’t justify their lack of social media presence by saying “I’m not on social media that much to make a difference”…You’re on social media enough to know what is going on, you’re on social media enough to post a picture of you and your “friends”, you’re on social media enough to post a meme. You’re on social media enough to post things about your business. I recently read on a small business page that they were told not to be vocal about Black Lives because they would lose business, the small business owner didn’t give a shit about losing business. That is YOUR business, which represents YOUR views and values. Afraid of losing customers? Are those the customers you want to keep? If so, then I guess I understand who you are as a person and what your views and values are.

We need to stop spending our money with local businesses that have yet to show their solidarity for Black Lives Mattering. We have got to stop smiling in the faces of those who love our culture but sit by and make money off of us but won’t say a damn word about what is going on in the world. We need to stop eating at spots that know us by name when we are purchasing their products but don’t know us by name now. Specifically ladies, including your nail shops, your lash shop, your hair shop, your tattoo shop, your favorite clothing shop, your favorite make-up shop, favorite cupcake spot, your favorite cheesecake place, your favorite accessory shop, shit my favorite vegan spots have been SILENT…basically all of the shops you spend money at for your own guilty pleasures. Where do they stand on this matter? If you don’t know, check their accounts, then you will know. This blackout Tuesday shit and it’s hashtag doesn’t count…whatever the hell that was about.

We need to shift our focus to those businesses that have been vocal and have shown unity both on a small local scale and on a large national scale. Shit, most of these places don’t even celebrate or acknowledge Black History Month, an entire month to do something that shows they support and celebrate Black Lives, but they will celebrate that shamrock shit every single year…they will make green food, decorate their business windows and right in Black Communities too. Time to open your eyes.

Shifting gears…Is your partner black and you are white? Do you have black children and you are white? Do you have black grand kids and you are white? How about black nieces and nephews and you are white? If you have answered yes to any of these questions and you have been quiet, you are part of the issues we have in this world today. Your partner is suffering, your children are suffering, your family is suffering and your silence is deafening. They need to see and feel that you understand what they are going through, this is complete turmoil for their minds. You haven’t faced racism and you very well may not know that they have, believe me they have even if it was subtle and not spoken about. You as a white person with any connection to black people, whether that is your family member, clients of your business, co-workers or friends are either with us and will let your voice be heard on these issues or we will assume you are so complacent with your position in life that Black lives simply don’t matter to you. There is no grey area in this situation. You either care enough to get involved or you don’t care at all.

“Black Lives Matter!!!!, I Finally Get It!!!! And I’m Sorry That It Took So Long!!!” is what I read on someone’s Facebook recently. I can say that the person who wrote this is very much pro-police. This shocked the shit out of me if I’m being honest. It gives me hope that you are never too old to learn and understand the issues of Black people. I wish you could’ve understood sooner in life…but for now, in this moment in time you made a public statement and continue to make public statements daily and shit, my heart feels a tad bit better seeing this change in you. I am acknowledging this particular post because this person is a prime example of how you can acknowledge your own ignorance to what is going on around you by using your own words not just some quote.

For all the others who claim they never “knew there was racism”, for the ones who thought we made this all up and “use the race card” when we speak on racism, for those who were set in their comfortable ways, living their comfortable lives, not giving a shit about Black people, racism, police brutality, a system built to serve them not us…for those of you who fall into this category of  people and finally see what we are talking about and now and acknowledge it openly in a public forum for all to see…I wish it hadn’t taken so long, I wish George Floyd’s horrific murder wasn’t the reason why you finally got it, there were so many murders before George Floyd’s, so many more that should’ve woken you up.

I know a lot can’t understand the looting, you need to understand that this is happening with both both Black and white people…do your research there are plenty of videos showing white looters around the world, stop focusing only on the Blacks. Some of you can’t comprehend the protests not being peaceful, you can’t figure out why they are out there risking their lives and destroying properties and communities. Truth is, I truly didn’t understand it either until 2015 when I was educated by someone I have a lot of respect for (he doesn’t like public praise so I won’t go against that and state his name) however he took the time to share information with me that completely opened my eyes to why peaceful protests get you nowhere when you are fighting for basic human rights as a Black person. I will share some of the links he shared with me:

He notes: A guy named Robert Williams. he ran an armed wing of the NAACP that protected Civil Rights Marchers. They were like 600 members deep:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Williams?fbclid=IwAR2PVDTdbB_S3RvN8WMyO7_xEKx9n2jIltpTdv_8QRZqFN_SFvZgzWGRVgc

He notes: the armed part of the Civil Rights Movement has been silenced. this is the guy who Huey Newton (co-founder of the Black Panther Party) got his Black Panther Party ideas from.

Here is another link for you to read up on Robert Williams, there is a film called Negroes With Guns, if you can’t find the film to watch just Google it for clips…you will get the point.

https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/negroeswithguns/rob.html

If the above links don’t strike a cord with you…maybe this will because the protests today have nothing on this historical event.

Racism is in Halifax, NS, Canada…this is NOT just a USA issue although it is more heightened and talked about nationally in the USA, but we go through it here, day in and day out…many deaths at the hands of police, do your research you’d be shocked, followed in stores, street checks, pulled over for driving a “luxury” car that we “shouldn’t” be driving, arrested and charged for shit we didn’t do, given sentences much longer than any other white person who committed the same crime, turned down for jobs, having to use a different address when applying for jobs because we live in a “Black Community”, shit people have even used a different name just to get an interview because their name is considered “Too Black”. This is a corrupt system that is working against us day in and day out. Not just Black but also Indigenous owners of this land. This is why we scream RACISM because it does exist here in Canada, in NS, in little ole Halifax, it does.

This is what unity looks like in a picture but now what does unity look like when the crowd disperses and everyone goes home…what and how can you, your partner, your family, your neighbors, your co-workers, our small businesses how can they make a difference outside of this rally. This is not about showing up at a rally and going home living your comfortable life. Yes you showed up but what now? What are you going to do now? Research and figure it out. You want to help us, then help us by being knowledgeable and find your “thing” to contribute to ending racism. Don’t worry about saying the wrong thing but be mindful we don’t want to here “yeah but” when it comes to racism. Keep away from those two words and we will have conversations with you but damn it, you got to do your research first…don’t expect us to lay out the historical background for you.

So while your first post was a black out post today with whatever the hashtag was, and gawd don’t get me started on how ridiculous that was in my opinion….but if this is where you are starting, you’re a bit behind the rest of us because there has been some real shit going on these past few weeks and a black out post today just won’t cut it. When are you going to be more vocal, get more involved about the racism that exists not just here but around the world for Black people? Maybe it won’t be today, maybe it won’t be tomorrow but know this…you can post, you can share, you can hashtag whatever you want but the only people I’m acknowledging are those using their own words.

It’s easy to post a quote. It’s easy to use a hashtag. It’s easy to use a Facebook frame around your picture, It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of the blackout, it should be easy to say how you’re really feeling publicly. Own your thoughts, feel guilty if need be, express that shit and let us know you are at least willing to make a damn effort but do it because you want to not because of this blog or pressure from others…if it’s not genuine, don’t do it at all…we don’t need that kind of fake support.

Tomorrow is a new day, so as we continue to do what we are going to do what is it that you are going to do?

BLACK LIVES MATTER

INDIGENOUS LIVES MATTER