Dear “supportive” white people,
I get it, your moment has arrived finally that you can show how much you care and support your black and other POC comrades. I’m glad that the trauma has finally built to a point that so many of you can no longer stand for it. Don’t get it twisted, I am happy that so many non POC are speaking out, but while you sit so tall on that high horse let me get a few things off my chest:
Too many black lives have been lost over such a long period of time, therefore don’t expect me to rejoice in you finally speaking out loud enough for other people to hear.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you are shocked by these recent occurrences, then you haven’t been listening. We’ve been telling you that our people are dying for generations.
For all those people who feel they need to check up on their black friends:
1. There are better ways to check in than asking how are you. I can guarantee you that I am NOT okay as are so many others, you didn’t need to ask this question. I can’t even express the number of emotions I am feeling concurrently. For me, this question is not actually asking about my well being, but instead you giving yourself a pat on the back saying, “yay, I did a thing”. Perhaps try simply letting the person know you are there for them if they need to talk or someone to just listen.
2. The saying “if you don’t have POC friends that complain about white people to you, then you don’t have POC friends” is true. But I’m gonna take this a step further: if you have a POC friend that talks to you about these issues, it does not mean all of your POC friends will. I get it, you feel down like you’ve been invited to the BBQ, I promise you, you’re not. Simply open the door and let them come to you not the other way around. But if they step through that door, you best be ready.
3. Seriously, learn to shut up, especially my white LGBT+ fam. Just because you can empathize, does not mean you UNDERSTAND. I do not understand your struggles, but I will be there with you until the end, please extend me the same curtesy. Remember, my blackness cannot be turned off or hidden as your sexual or gender identity can potentially be in any conversation.
4. Lastly, stop asking how can you help. My people are dying. My people are grieving. My people are traumatized. We are dealing with some shit at the moment. WE AINT GOT TIME TO BE FIXING YOUR PROBLEMS. Figure it out yourselves, I know you can. Y’all have solve a multitude of problems on you own, like how to justify slavery (yes I went there), you can do the homework and come up with some of your own solutions. Read the books, ask the questions, go back and read those same books, figure out what they aren’t saying, come up with some game plan, then come back to the table. We can all move forward from there because I promise you there will be things you left out because your privilege blinded you some holes in the plan. And just to be clear, how can I help and do you need anything/what do you need are very different questions. Make sure you are asking the one you want.
PS. These are my thoughts, I do not speak for an entire race, just myself.
annaxmalina
stormborns
turnnoffyourmind
pixelskylines
discoholicmusic
areudirty
dailybridgerton
blakekathryn