#BlackLivesMatter

Black lives continue to strive for liberation. Why? We as a UNITED community need to work together to stop racism. #BlackLivesMatter is a movement that is working toward equality. Yet, Black lives continue to be systematically targeted...this stops now.

[blacklivesmatter-r]

Big difference to me.

[globin347]

The trigger's in a different spot... and frankly, if the police officer did, in fact, make an honest mistake, than this mistake displays a level of incompetence that should bar him from the force.

[blacklivesmatter-r]

Big difference to me.

[anncaro]

No justice, no peace!

Since the judicial authority procedure against the policemen, who killed George Floyd has started, I thought about all the other black men and women, who became victims of police violence but also about the people, who dit that to them.

Imagine that at least one of the officers has kids. He comes home after treating a black men. HE had killed somebody. The family sits down at the dinner table and his son asks him: „Daddy, what did you do today to keep the people in our town safe?“ What would you tell your son if you know, you killed somebody out of nearly nothing? I believe maybe he would have answered something like this: „Well my son, today I arrested a man. He did something that is against our laws, so he has to pay for it.“ Maybe then the conversation goes on to another topic, but the next day, nothing will be as it was before.

The kids see their Dad on the news. And what he really did. The protests start to begin and everyone in their town wants “Justice for George Floyd“. Then the kids start to realize that their Dad has done something wrong, but as he told them, the men did something against the law they don´t know what to believe.

And now? How will their Mum explain to them, why Dad is in charge of second degree murder? Does she try to change their minds, because they were raised as kids with no connection to racism at all?

I asked this questions to myself and to be honest, I wouldn´t know what to tell them. But it doesn´t have to come like this. I am referring to the fourth point of my summary of Ivirleis´ video: Raise anti racist children! If you start to talk about racism with your kid from the day they can understand, it will become a part of them: they automatically become an ally. Maybe they will speak up later, when their friends make jokes about some “Niggas“, or take action otherwise.

Now imagine, everyone would grow up with this anti-racism-thinking. The world would be a better place. Not because every problem will be solved, but slowly the maybe biggest source of force (I am also talking about racism in form of religious persecution here) will stop existing. People will learn to respecht eachother.

So how to start? With JUSTICE, because this is the first step making white, racist people realize that what they do to their black neighbours is totally incorrect and will be charged. With no difference between black and white, the judicial system has to make laws to prevent the uneval punishments. I am not a lawyer and I am not completely into the US judicial system, but what I see is that there has to be a change.

We all thought that Apartheid isn´t a topic anymore, but still black people are treated differently than white people. This has to stop NOW. In every country around the world. Share, speak, protest and help the government understand.

Feel free to share this at your profile and your thoughts with me.

-Ann

[blacklivesmatter-r]

#blacklivesmatter

[anncaro]

How to help: a guide for white people - based on the words of Ivirlei Brookes

The latest protests, caused by the death of George Floyd, have sparked a lot of debates about racism and police powers especially in the United States. And also here in Germany, people couldn´t be more terrified about the situations, where black people had to endure brutal violence or were killed often just because they were supposed to be a threat. In my opinion we shouldn´t be living in a century, where the color of your skin is a source of direct racism, mobbing or death sentence. So please: Ask yourself what you can do to make a change, even if this means that you only make a friend thinking about this topic. Speak it out loud, use your voice, be suppportive, be an ally.

-Ann

The following words are based on those, who were spoken by an incredible strong woman, using her voice to tell (especially white people), how to help. Follow her on instagram: ivirlei

1. Self reflect!

A lot: Go deep, get messy. If you´re new to being an ally, start there - what kept you? What beliefs have you ignored? How have you benefited from white privilege? Note: This work can take years, so get started!

2. Get comfortable being uncomfortable!

Nervous about what friends will think about you speaking up as an ally? They aren´t your friends if they have a problem with you speaking up for what´s right.

3. Make it a part of who you are!

The more you make being an ally part of you and how you see the world, you will see injustice around you in ways you never have before.

4. Commit to being the vocal white friend!

Don´t quietly sit and accept racist/ignorant comments from strangers, friends, or family.

5. Raise anti racist kids!

Raise kids that aren´t passive when it comes to racism. lead by example daily.

6. It´s not enough to be sympathetic!

Be actice, speak out within your own circle. It is the job of white people to educate other white people. At work, create diverse hiring practices.

Do better.

[blacklivesmatter-r]

please read‼️

[blacklivesmatter-r]

BLM movement is NOT over!! Keep communicating! Keep protesting !!! Black lives have gone through years of oppression and still continue to suffer. This needs to stop now!!

[blacklivesmatter-r]

[blacklivesmatter-r]

photos by @ceejaycanon

[anncaro]

How to help: a guide for white people - based on the words of Ivirlei Brookes

The latest protests, caused by the death of George Floyd, have sparked a lot of debates about racism and police powers especially in the United States. And also here in Germany, people couldn´t be more terrified about the situations, where black people had to endure brutal violence or were killed often just because they were supposed to be a threat. In my opinion we shouldn´t be living in a century, where the color of your skin is a source of direct racism, mobbing or death sentence. So please: Ask yourself what you can do to make a change, even if this means that you only make a friend thinking about this topic. Speak it out loud, use your voice, be suppportive, be an ally.

-Ann

The following words are based on those, who were spoken by an incredible strong woman, using her voice to tell (especially white people), how to help. Follow her on instagram: ivirlei

1. Self reflect!

A lot: Go deep, get messy. If you´re new to being an ally, start there - what kept you? What beliefs have you ignored? How have you benefited from white privilege? Note: This work ban take years, so get started!

2. Get comfortable being uncomfortable!

Nervous about what fiends will think about you speaking up as an ally? They aren´t your friends if they have a problem with you speaking up for what´s right.

3. Make it a part of who you are!

The more you make being an ally part of you and how you see the world, you will see injustice around you in ways you never have before.

4. Commit to being the vocal white friend!

Don´t quietly sit and accept racist/ignorant comments from strangers, friends, or family.

5. Raise anti racist kids!

Raise kids that aren´t passive when it comes to racism. lead by example daily.

6. It´s not enough to be sympathetic!

Be actice, speak out within your own circle. It is the job of white people to educate other white people. At work, create diverse hiring practices.

Do better.

[blacklivesmatter-r]

BLM movement is NOT over. Change needs to happen now.

[blacklivesmatter-r]

please don’t stop. please don’t quit. keep protesting. keep communicating. keep fighting. keep signing. keep donating. BLACK LIVES MATTER!! racism is NOT over!!

[blacklivesmatter-r]

https://blacklivesmatter.com/global-actions/

The Black Lives Matter movement is so strong!!! But let’s make it stronger! Racism obviously exists, and it needs to stop now!

[blacklivesmatter-r]

Celebrities like Columbus Short and Keke Palmer also support the ‘All Lives Matter’ hashtag/saying. 

In Columbus Short’s tweet, I wasn’t sure where his point of view was coming from. On the other hand, Keke Palmer believes All Lives Matter because people are oftentimes killed for the religions they believe in. I see where Keke Palmer is coming from, but Black Lives are more commonly targeted and Black Lives have the history of discrimination and inequality to use #BlackLivesMatter as a hashtag AND a movement.

[blacklivesmatter-r]

“Racism is alive and remains vibrant and volatile. It seems every month we are hearing about some incident in which a usually young Black male has been verbally assaulted, physically accosted, or gunned down by some racially xenophobic white male (often the police) because in that moment the person felt threatened by dark skin. To be clear, it is not the dark skin they are really afraid of. It is what the dark skin has come to mean as a preverbal signifier of criminality, anti-intellectualism, and a whole host of other stereotypes” (’Don’t Forget the Violence in Racist Violations’ by Ronald L. Jackson II)

Due to the color of one’s skin, innocent Black lives are misjudged of being harmful. Due to the color of one’s skin, innocent Black lives are verbally and physically assaulted. Due to the color of one’s skin, innocent Black lives are being taken. 

This stops now.

[blacklivesmatter-r]

Participation from All

“No matter who is to blame for racism, we much all participate in human revival and self-renewal. No one can determine when racism will end” (The Meaning of Whiteness: Critical Implications of Communicating and Negotiating Race).

I took this quote from an article called ‘The Meaning of Whiteness: Critical Implications of Communicating and Negotiating Race’ by Ronald L. Jackson II, Chang In Shin, and Keith B. Wilson. I thought this quote was very strong and important to acknowledge in this blog because it’s true that we need as many people as possible to “participate in human revival”. If we want equality for all, and for “all lives to matter”, we need maximum effort to get there. No one knows if racism will ever end, but every individual should know if they tried to create change in this world. Racism has gone on for too long. Change needs to happen now.

[blacklivesmatter-r]

White people are just people. Within this construction, whites can represent humanity, while people of color, who are never just people but always most particularly black people, Asian people, etc., can only represent their own racialized experiences (Dyer, 1992).

https://libjournal.uncg.edu/ijcp/article/viewFile/249/116

[blacklivesmatter-r]

Many celebrities support #BlackLivesMatter because they’re tired of inequality. We’re all tired of it. #BlackLivesMatter is a movement that needs to continue until we are all treated equally. “that time is now”!!!!

[blacklivesmatter-r]

Wow...

A$AP Rocky was a former hustler in Harlem, New York. His father in jail for drug dealing and his older brother was murdered, which influenced him to take rapping more seriously. Later on, A$AP Rocky became the first person of color to represent the luxury menswear brand of Dior Homme.

A$AP Rocky seemed to have had a rough time growing up in Harlem, New York and this tweet doesn’t show respect to the Black lives that haven’t gone as far as him and are still struggling against racism and discrimination. Saying “he can’t relate” because he’s living a better life in Beverly Hills is just disrespectful. Just because he isn’t experiencing racism, due to his fame, doesn’t mean that racism has stopped for others.

Always remember where you come from.