Black Lives Matter
- Lauren Grace
- Jun 7, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 15, 2020
On May 21st, 2020, I wrote an analytical paragraph about the Netflix movie 'American Son'. The final draft was due on May 25th.
Our objective was to analyze America through film. We each got to pick a film that centers around living in America during a certain time period. My parents have both seen 'American Son' while it was on Broadway, and it's been on my Netflix list for a while now.
On May 21st, I wrote an analytical paragraph about how the directorial choice of a storm theme represents how society has become desensitized to police brutality of African Americans. I submitted the final draft on May 25th. George Floyd died on May 25th, choked to death by a police officer kneeling on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
The day I finish a paragraph about how society has become desensitized to the deaths of black Americans at the hands of police officers, society ceases to be silenced.
Soon, protests across the country are happening. People are standing up against police brutality and for equality. 65 years ago, the Civil Rights movement demanded equality for African Americans. And now, 65 years later, we are still fighting that battle.
I've seen the clips from protests on social media. I've heard about the lootings and the peaceful protests turned violent. One night, listening to the helicopters circling around the boarded up mall in my neighborhood, I decided enough was enough. Our history teacher gave us a list of anti-racism resources, and I spent the rest of my time before my next class educating myself on racism and how to be part of the change. How to be an ally. (I'm going to put the link at the end of the post. I highly recommended spending some time reading the articles and watching the videos)
I learned so much from these resources, but it didn't fully settle the pit in my stomach. Every time I open up some form of social media, there's a post telling me I need to be doing more. That I'm not doing enough. And I agreed. There's got to be something more I should be doing. When my friend sent me the link to join a 'Day of Action' Zoom, I signed up.
I had trouble sleeping the night before. Anxiety piled up like rocks in my chest. The fact that we're living in a world where people are, once again, marching for their basic human rights unsettles me. Basic human rights that should have been given to them a long time ago.
"We are the generation that's going to change the world," everyone says, "We are the ones that are going to right the wrongs of the past."
The day of the Zoom call, I turned off all my social media. While I agree that people need to do more than post a black screen and announce their support, I also couldn't keep looking at posts telling me to do more. I wasn't even sure about what I could be doing. Looking at those posts just added to my anxiety and I needed to turn it off.
Instead of scrolling through Instagram, I spent an hour on a Zoom call, signing petitions. And not just signing them. Reading through them. We were given a list of reliable petitions, each supporting the Black Lives Matters movement. Each petition I signed, I read through.
We've heard the names George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. We've heard about Eric Garner and Tamir Rice. But each petition I signed was a name I've never heard on the news before. A story of injustice I've never seen before. I signed each petition, feeling like I was doing something to help.
This got me thinking about my paragraph. The inequality of our country that's been going on for years. Decades. 65 years since the Civil Rights movement and the same problems are still happening. Society had become blind to the reality of living as a person of color in America.
Had. Past tense. The day I submitted my paragraph, society said, "Enough. We are going to put an end to police brutality, and inequality in general. We will no longer turn a blind eye to the injustices of the world. We are going to change this world for the better."
I may not be able to be at the front lines of protests, or able to donate money to different organizations, but there's still a lot I can do. I have a blog. I have a platform to promote peace and equality. I have a place to make my voice heard and move others to do the same. I can read through petitions and sign them. I can educate myself and have conversations about what's happening in the world.
I saw this quote on Tik Tok. Yeah, Tik Tok. It was one of those Tik Toks about the future, where people are watching trailers about 2020 movies. I really wished I had saved this Tik Tok, because this quote has stuck with me for a while now and I really would like to quote them. (If you know the Tik Tok I'm talking about, please let me know so I can properly quote them). The Tik Tok said, "When your kids ask what you did during 2020, would you be proud of what you told them?"
To all of the people who don't know what to do. Don't know how they can help be a part of the change. I was there. I felt the same way. There's a variety of things to do to support the changes and the Black Lives Matter movement. Join peaceful protests in your area, if it is safe for you to do so. Calling or emailing/texting people in power to make change. Reading and signing petitions. Donating, either literally or watching ads on Youtube videos (I'll put this link at the end of the post as well). Educate yourself and talk to the people around you about these topics. Do what you can do and do those things knowing you are helping. You are making a difference and are helping to make a positive change on our country.
I will never truly understand what it means to be a person of color in America. However, I will do everything I can to educate myself and be a part of the positive change. Black Lives Matter.
-Lauren
('American Son' is not listed here, but I highly recommend it. It's very powerful and very moving)
Comments