Page 5 - V1.ACTIVISM

In these hashtags hashtags are are are sons daughters mothers fathers sisters brothers humans These hashtags hashtags hashtags are are are more than trending topics and and and news headlines They are are are a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cry for for help a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a call to to action and and and an an an an an an an an urge for for change For myself and and and millions of of of Black Americans those hashtags hashtags are are are a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a reminder reminder of of of the the harsh reality that that it it could easily be one of of of us us It’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a constant reminder reminder that that we are merely surviving in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a system meant to to to to oppress and and and fail us us But no more You and and and I I have the the the the power to to to to to be be be be the the the the change we we want to to to to to see in in in in present-day America and and and and and set the the the the tone for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a better fu- ture My right to to to to to live and and and and and be be be be treated like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a decent human being is not up for for debate and and and and and neither was Breonna’s Philando’s Atatiana’s and and and and and the the countless Black people that fell victim to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a system plagued by racist and and and discriminatory beliefs So what can you you you do to to to help bring about that change America so so desperately needs? Step one educate educate yourself by leaving the social media bubble and going out out to to to research on on on on on your your own As As minorities it it it is is not our our our our responsibility to to to educate educate you you you you on on on on on our our our our oppression As As an an an an an ‘ally’ doing the the research is is the the bare minimum you you you you can do do to to gain an an an an an understanding of why we are are pushing so hard for change Secondly acknowledge your your privilege Acknowledge how your your race religion sexuality gender etc alone helps you you you you you in in in in certain situations Take those realiza- tions tions and use them to to to your your advantage Use your your privilege to to to help help help make meaningful change Third help help bring awareness to to to issues that Black Black people people face without re-posting traumatizing videos of cops murdering Black Black people people Instead share educational resources and and and start those tough conversations amongst friends and and and and family Lastly speak speak up and and and and speak speak out out out about about racism and and and and injustices everywhere It’s not enough to to to to only talk about about trending topics on on on on on public plat- forms You have to to to to actively fight and and speak speak against racism whenever you encounter it it it Whether it’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a small comment comment made between friends or or a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a comment comment on social media it it it is is okay to to speak speak up Of course doing these things is is is only a a a a a a a a a a a a scratch on on on on the the surface of a a a a a a a a a a a a much bigger issue issue but they matter You You You don’t don’t don’t have have have to to to to to to be be be Black Black Black Black to to to to to to care about Black Black Black Black issues You You You don’t don’t don’t have have have to to to to to to be be be Black Black Black Black to to to to to to see see the the the many obstacles our community faces You You You don’t don’t don’t have have have to to to to to to to be be be be Black Black Black Black Black to to to to to to to see see that we are are hu- man man beings just as as worthy of life life as as the the next person My life life matters Black Black lives matter matter today tomorrow and forever