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By: Raven Harper
Millions of emotions spilled out across the country on social media hours after a video was released showing 46-year-old, George Floyd being suffocated to his death by the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis for eight whole minutes and 46 seconds. This incident along with the wrongful killings of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery sparked outrage from the black community. Videos, petitions, numbers of government officials, and pictures of George, Breonna, and Ahmaud filled the timelines of many black people’s social media platforms as well as calls out to non-black people, celebrities and companies to speak out and use their largely followed platforms and dollars to help fight against injustice and equality. In response, many did. Celebrities and companies like Billie Eilish, Nike, and Youtube released statements, videos, and resources on their Instagrams to show their solidarity. While the black community appreciates you for using your platform to speak out, there is still more you can do and more to be done. As for the black community, let’s refrain from praising fish for swimming. They should be as outraged and angry about the systematic racism and injustice that constantly lives in our country and around the world. Instead of praising them, let them know what more they can do months from now when our timelines no longer look how they do now.
Below is a guide with thirteen things you as a non-black person can do to continue standing up for justice and equality as well as supporting your black community because the posts are not enough. These are even things that black people can practice and take notes from as well.
1. Call out racism and discrimination when you see it
Calling out racism and discrimination on social media is one thing, but the real test is doing it in public, (IRL) when nobody is watching. When you see someone being discriminated against, made fun of because of their identity (race and sexuality), called slurs, or anything in response to their identity, say something. Saying something goes a long way. Call the person out. Don’t be a bystander. Let them know you are with them.
2. Educate yourself on people of other communities
There are hundreds of books, films, documentaries, podcasts, and resources out there to learn about communities outside your own. Knowledge is at your fingertips. Here are some links to books, films, and other resources to educate yourself on the black community. https://boilerroom.tv/article/black-lives-matter-resources
3. Diversify your community and friend group
Get to know people who don’t look like you. I’m sure they are around for you to. All you have to do is start a conversation or say hello. You can’t understand other people until you get to know them. Speak to your black co-worker or the Asian guy in your class.
4. Ask your black friends how you can be a better friend to them
If you are friends with other black people, how good of a friend are you? Do you understand their struggles? Do you speak to and treat them with respect? Sometimes, black people get offended with the way their non-black friends treat/talk to them but often let it slide and let things go unsaid. Try having a conversation with your black friends and other POC friends and ask them how can you can be a better friend to them. Ask them if there’s anything you do that they don’t like and try to work on them.
5. Set your own opinions to the side and be open to being educated
Listen. Set your opinions and feelings to the side, and listen to other perspectives. Listen to understand. That is the only way you truly will be able to educate yourself on the communities outside your own.
6. Diversify what you consume
Try to broaden the things you consume. Shows, movies, companies you buy from regularly, podcasts you listen to, pastors you watch, music, etc. When all you surround yourself with is the same thing, you are leaving yourself blind to everything else that is out there. You can also educate yourself and gain a different perspective on things. Click here for a list of black businesses you can support next time you need something. https://nymag.com/strategist/article/black-owned-businesses-support-shop.html
7. Participate in local elections and the 2020 presidential election
Vote! But before you vote, educate yourself on the candidates running, what you are voting for, and the impact of your vote. A lot of people make a mistake of not educating themselves on what they are voting on. Get registered, look up the candidates who will be on your poll, get involved in local elections, and make sure the person you vote for supports your views and rights as well as the views and rights of those around you. While you may like what one candidate says on this issue, that candidate is also the same person who is trying to imprison members of your black friend’s community. What affects one, affects us all. Click here for voting resources. https://www.vote.org/
8. Be mindful of how you treat people
Do you judge other people for something they cannot control or based on their life choices? Do you lock your doors when you see a POC pull up in the car next to you because of the color of their skin? Treat people with respect and not by their identity. Ask yourself would you like to be treated this way. If not, don’t treat others like that.
9. Have those uncomfortable conversations at the dinner table
Does your family have certain views regarding people of other races and sexuality? Teach them that in today’s age and society, that is no longer acceptable. Teach them to be more accepting of other people. The one thing our generation is known for. These conversations are not easy ones to be had, however, they are needed and important. These conversations are the ones that together make a difference. Make sure while you are out here being an ally, that your family is too.
10. Check your friends for using the N-word if they do. Yes, the N-word.
If you hear your friends saying the n-word, call them out. Tell them to stop and to not use it again. Stop letting that be a word used within the confidentiality of your friend group because it most likely will find itself outside of it. Understand the history and power behind that word, and that for it to come out the mouth of someone who looks like you is not as playful, and unharmful as much as you think.
11. Stop supporting people and brands that don't stand for justice and equality
This is where our generation's favorite past time comes into play. Cancel culture. Often, when a celebrity, famous person or brand is getting canceled it is because they did something wrong, said something offensive, or disrespected a group of people. Once they are canceled, don’t continue to listen, watch or support them. Don’t tweet about how they are canceled, and then continue to listen to their music and give them your attention and money. That’s coon behavior.
12. Respect people's sexuality and support them
Not identifying with someone’s sexuality, does not give you the right to disrespect or hate them. That doesn’t even mean you cannot support them. Despite what others may say or the bible may even say, it is not your place to shun them, judge them, or tell them where they are going. As much as you think your two cents is going to change their sexuality and preference, it is not. Instead, respect them. Respect their pronouns, and support them in whichever way they need if you can.
13. Seek ways to provide and demand inclusivity in your businesses and jobs.
If you run a business, is it inclusive? If someone looks at your business, will they be able to tell it is inclusive besides the sentence in your mission statement that says it? Are you representing different types of people? In your job, is it diverse? Are/Is your content/clients diverse? If you have the power to hire others, are you hiring people of all backgrounds and identities? More diverse companies often do better during times like these because they have people who can relate and can also make sure the content that is being put out is not offensive or wrong in any way.
The posts were great, but let’s aim to do more. I hope these examples are a start. This time around we have to do more. This time around, it is no longer up to black people to fight for injustice. This time around, it is a team effort.
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