BLACK LIVES MATTER

How much more does the black community need to go through before there is a change? It's disgusting and completely devastating that it's taken this much trauma for us to realise this is a problem and has been for years and years. I'm praying the mass attention on social media surrounding the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, is finally the realisation we've all needed to sort out this injustice and discrimination.

In order to create an equal society, we must commit to making unbiased choices and being anti-racist in all aspects of our lives.

"In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist". - ANGELA Y. DAVIS

First of all, what does it mean to be anti-racist? No one is born racist or anti-racist; these result from the choices we make. Being anti-racist results from a conscious decision to make frequent, consistent, equitable choices daily. These choices require ongoing self-awareness and self-reflection as we move through life. Ibram X Kendi suggests there are six ways to be anti-racist:

1) Understand the definition of racist.

2) Stop saying "I'm not racist."

3) Identify racial inequities and disparities.

4) Confront the racist ideas you've held or continue to hold.

5) Understand how your anti-racism needs to be intersectional. 

6) Champion antiracist ideas and policies. 

He goes in more detail about this in his book: How to Be an Antiracist. There is SO much literature you can read to educate yourself further - my reading list is so long right now, I think I have enough books to last me for the rest of my life!

A few book recommendations:

• Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge.

• I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Braithwaite

• Race Matters by Cornel West

• White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

• I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a world made for whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

• So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

If you're not really a book person, here are a few shows, documentaries and videos you can watch:

• Dear White People – Netflix

• What happens when I try to talk race with white people – YouTube

• When They See Us – Netflix

• I Am Not Your Negro – Documentary Amazon

• 13th - Netflix

• Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap - Netflix

• If Beale Street Could Talk - Amazon Prime

Whether it's posting on social media, protesting on the streets, educating yourself, silently donating or having those tough conversations with others, 'be kind to yourself and others who are travelling in the same direction'. A revolution has many lanes and it's important to keep pushing forward. WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Keep fighting,

Ro x