Saturday, August 12, 2017

We all live in Charlottesville

While I appreciate that there are more politicians calling the act in Charlottesville terrorism, it makes me sick to my stomach to think of all the times that these politicians ignored what was happening to non-white peoples.

It is EASY to stand up to Nazis. But what about something more insidious? More difficult to explain? More alien to your friends?

Learning about how indigenous peoples are treated all over the world by listening to native Americans at Standing Rock, I have started to see how poorly we treat them. My eyes are opened further every day.

As an example, did you ever stop to think that you are standing on land that was stolen? Let that sink in.

Non-white, non-CIS, non-male, and so many more peoples are, to this day, completely and continually marginalized and ignored when they are clearly having their rights violated. Examples abound if you look.

Who got arrested at Standing Rock? People protesting a white-owned pipeline that WILL poison the drinking water of 18,000,000 people. By white police. In a white-controlled county. Because white people didn't want it in their part of the state. Is anyone there being held accountable for their treatment of our indigenous? That should have been a no brainier. Hundreds of white police and mercenaries should be rotting in prison. But nope. They all took that blood money and went back to their white homes. (I know there were other races in power there, but they were largely underrepresented and they are just as complicit. Don't believe it? Watch the tens of thousands of hours of video. Ask someone that was there).

Who was arrested in Ferguson? What race tends to live through encounters with the police? What race is overrepresented in prison? Who is getting priced out of gentrified areas?

Remember New Orleans? There were over 10,000 people stranded in the Superdome. No one even mentions it anymore.

How many non-whites were murdered by police RECENTLY? 

White people in power (police, elected officials, business owners, etc.) are, largely, not helping enough, and those that look the other way all have blood on their hands.

Have you looked lately at the racial breakdown in the police department? Before you look, what race do you think it's most represented? What about Congress and the Senate? What about your town's leadership? Do representatives match the racial makeup of your city or state? Do your politicians actively speak out about racism? Xenophobia? Sexism? Misogyny? 

Go through your friends, mentally. Think about who responded "white (or blue) lives matter" in response to "Black Lives Matter" and consider their "whiteness" again. Are they part of the problem or part of the solution?

Are you going to let friend and family racism stand? What about microaggressions? Will you stand up to them and let them know how that affects PoC or people that are non-CIS? Do you have the courage to tell your father that he is a racist? Can you stand up to your family at a reunion and renounce your affiliation to them because they won't accept who you love? Will you speak up in public when you see people speaking about others behind their back about their race? Can you stand up to the bullies in your school? Will you stop people that are telling racist "jokes?"

These take courage. They might get you killed in the wrong place. Would you die for the rights of someone else?

Even if you aren't ready to die for your beliefs, you can make a tiny difference; you're on the right side of history. If it's too dangerous, do something else. Get educated. Go volunteer outside your comfort zone. Watch Triumph of the Will. Support Black Lives Matter. Even if you just watch videos. Or try to subtly get others to learn more. Be a mentor. Be the change you want to see.

If you're not helping when you can in any way you can, YOU are part of the problem. Do something. Now. Make change happen. Now.

Lives depend on it.

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