The name is Arielle. I pretty much like anything and everything. Can I leave it at that? Does anyone really read these things? Oh yeah, I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Lawrence. Okay, I think that's it. :D
It's been awhile since I've posted on here. Honestly, it's been forever since I've posted on here, but I have a lot of thoughts and I know of no other way to express them, then through writing.Ā
I want to talk about Ferguson. This is something that has deeply upset me. When news of the shooting first made headlines, my first reaction was shock, that yet another young man was killed. I was shocked, but I wasn't angry. My anger didn't seep in until I heard the countless horrible things that were being said about his death. The racial slurs, the victim blaming, and the devaluation of another human being's life. Even though his shooting was tragic, it was the reaction to his shooting that terrified me.Ā
America, we have a problem.
That day there was a very clear line drawn in the sand. On that terrible day, the racial tension that had been building up in not only Ferguson, but the whole country finally bubbled over. We had reached the tipping point. With both sides frustrated at one another for the lack of progress over the years. The media and society set out to make this case about one thing. Either you were racist or you were not. Of course, the Darren Wilson supporters were deemed racist bigots(which a large majority of them are racist bigots) and the Mike Brown supporters were deemed as liberals who support criminal activity, play the race card, and are racist.(which was caused by a huge misunderstanding) The truth of the matter is that both sides were being extremely bias and prejudice towards one another. Putting this horrible case aside, our issues is not with Darren Wilson and Mike Brown. Our issue is with each other.Ā
Black America, we have some issues.
I speak only from a young black girl's perspective, but we do have many issues in our community that are worth addressing. We need to strive for better and I say strive because that's sadly the only way we'll achieve it. We need more black men to step up and take the place as a mentor for other young black men. Be a father figure to them, regardless if they have one in their life or not. Be more affectionate to one another. It's okay, to hug your children and tell them you love them or you're proud of them. While some black men take on this role, I can't help but see not enough do. I believe this has something to do with the sexist culture we live. Which if we're being honest, sexism and racism can sometimes go hand in hand. I feel like black men are taught that strength is in hiding emotions that are considered feminine. That's simply not true, and it's time that not just black men but all men think like that. Black women, it's time that we stop fighting with each other. Let's stop trying to find things to hate each other for. We believe that if one black woman succeeds in something that we're good at, then we have failed. Again, that's simply not true. We're not in competition with each other. To all the privilege black people. To the one's that may have grown up in two parent households. To the one's that may have grew up in the middle class suburbs. To the one's that may have never had to worry about finances, college, or safety. It's time that we stopped separating ourselves from the underprivileged. This idea that we're better than someone the same damn color as us, HAS TO STOP. You're not better than anyone, you're just privileged. We need stop tearing each other down and start building one another up. We're all trying to do the same thing. Survive.
White America, the system is problematic.
White privilege is a word that's been thrown around for days, weeks, and years. It seems like most of society is finally waking up to the fact that our law enforcement and government system is stacked up against certain races and favors others, and by favors others, I mean predominately and only white people. Let's talk about white privilege, to where it's a concept that everyone understands. White privilege is the fact that if a white person smokes weed they're consider cool, when a black person does it they're automatically qualified as a juvenile delinquent. White privilege is when a bunch of white people riot at a pumpkin festival and there's hardly any public scrutiny, but when black people do it, it's violent and primitive. White privilege is when a white man takes a picture with a gun, he's considered a good American patriot, when a black man poses with a gun he's a thug and a threat. White privilege is the fact that in your neighborhood, you won't see an eighteen year old shot twelve times and then left there for four and a half hours, as his family, friends, and neighbors watch his dead body lying motionless on the street. That is white privilege.Ā This system is not white peoples' fault, though. It was built long ago and has been implemented since then. It's hard to break away from something, when it's honestly all we know. This system is not only in government. It's a series of beliefs, attitudes, and double standards, that can manifest themselves in ugly ways. Example, an eighteen year old white boy goes and shoots up a school, society tells us he was a good guy, made good grades, he just snapped. The police apprehend him safely and he's treated with sympathy. Let's just forget the fact that he brutally killed twelve people. An eighteen year old black boy who talks back to an officer and supposedly "attacked" him(says the killer) is now worthy of death, not just a death, but an execution and an unfair grand jury trial. Despite the fact that he was unarmed. Like I said before, this system is nobody's fault, it was created long ago. However, that does not excuse ignorance to the fact that it does exist, and in order for white people to stay advantaged, other people have to suffer. Also, just because you were born in a certain neighborhood, talk a certain way, or have a good income, that doesn't mean you're life is more valuable than others. It doesn't mean you're better than someone. It just means, you're privilege.Ā
Again America, we have a problem.
We can fix it, though. We can start by rebuilding a faulty system and the way we think about each other. First of all, I don't think most people know that in underdeveloped areas, many people feel hopeless and stuck. They want more, but they lack the tools to receive more. Let's give them hope and the ability to know that their quality of life can be so much more. I truly do believe that our education system is just one of the keys to building up this country once again. It's not fair that some children have the benefits of going to well-funded schools, just because they live in the right neighborhood, while other children are left with the scarps of our already horrible public school system. We need to let these children know that we care about them! We want them to succeed. We want them to do great things! We need more teachers who care. Teachers who love to teach and legitimately care about their students progress and well-being. Let's teach our children, the real history of this country. The good, the bad, the ugly. Don't pick and choose certain events and historical figures you want them to learn about.(Texas board of education, I'm talking about you!) Ignorance to our history will only breed more ignorance. Which leads me to another point, critical thinking. I know historically this country has been afraid of deep thinkers and great minds, but we should want our children to be able to think for themselves. Our students should be more international. Tell me why, we're still not trying to teach young children a different language. Learning a different language puts them at an advantage later on in life. We need to focus on making kids more well-rounded to find out what they excel in. That also means, putting an emphasis on the arts as well as the dearly beloved sports. If kids have a reason to want to go to school, they'll come to school.
Just like education, we need social reform. No child should go to school hungry. No child should go to bed hungry. We need to stop thinking that helping people who are less fortunate is bad. If you happen to think that way, this stems from the belief that you're better than someone. Let me tell you again, YOU'RE NOT! A large majority of people who are in poverty, are children under eighteen. Think about how that effects their future before they're even young adults. If they're hungry as a child they can't focus in class and if they're family is struggling with fiances, they drop out of school. Then you get mad when the sad cycle continues itself or they find unconventional and illegal ways of making money, such as selling drugs. Unbelievable! Shame on you, to anyone who has perpetuated this thought process. Let's stop thinking of people in underdeveloped areas as a burden. They're trying to do exactly what everyone else is trying to do...live and live well. One last thing, if you're not going to offer up real healing and real solutions, then keep your criticism to yourself. Your negativity is not needed, nor is it wanted. You're helping no one, you're just escalating the problem.
Lupita Nyongāo accepts the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role award onstage during the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
The miserable ones are the ones where all the girls auditioning are in the same room. Thereās no talking in those rooms. Iāve tried. Yesterday I had to do an interview. I was in a horrible mood. I couldnāt think of basic words. I could see my publicist in the background, mouthing things to say.Ā They want you to be likable all the time, and Iām just not.
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