Persist and Support - Centering My Chi

Conversations

I was just reading a couple of poems written by my mom that made me think of the conversations that I’ve been having lately with friends and family. The pandemic has caused a lot of people to not go out in the crowds and protest, but that doesn’t mean that some people have not done their part in helping to stop the racial injustice. If anything, start with honest conversations in your own home and go from there. That’s where I started. Also, to the many young people out there front and center…I want to say THANK YOU!

Do Your Part

A lot of people are asking, “Ok, so now what?” There are so many ways you can contribute and bring awareness to this movement besides being on the frontlines at the protests. If the COVID-19 pandemic has you shook about being outside in the crowds at the protests, I get it. I love that my friends have shared ways to contribute, as well as info about black businesses, writers, organizations, films, artist, musicians, articles, pictures and just open-minded conversations surrounding systemic racism. If you don’t have friends like this, you need to step up and be that friend. And shout out to the people who have done their part to get out there and VOTE!

Real Change

Being supportive of the movement and Black Lives Matter is not just about posting a black square or a picture on social media and saying that you support the cause. I’m talking about actionable steps. Protests are good and are needed because voices are heard, but we have to hit this thing at EVERY angle on EVERY level. Businesses and people need to be held accountable if they claim to support equality and diversity, when in fact they don’t. Institutions need to reexamine what it means to be inclusive. In order to see real change, we need to see more black voices and faces in higher places. We need to purposefully patronize black businesses. These are conversations that need to be had, and we need to ask uncomfortable questions…”How are you supporting?”

Structural Racism

Racism is imbedded in American history. Sometimes it’s subtle, racist undertones, and other times it’s just blatant and in your face. For example, the effects of racism have a long history pertaining to health disparities in the black community in contrast to white communities. Black people have more underlying health conditions, and therefore more black Americans are dying of COVID-19 at a higher rate compared to other races. Social and economic empowerment are key factors in ending structural racism. This goes deeper than a blog post. It has taken generations to get to where we are today, so that further lets you know that we have a long way to go.

How to Support?

Here are some ideas to get started:

Listen / Learn – Recognize and check your own privilege and use it to help the movement.
Educate Yourself – Read books, watch films and listen to podcasts about the history of racism and structural inequality in America.
Speak Up – Engage in conversations about racism and don’t be afraid to speak up.
Be a Role Model – Younger generations are watching what we do and how we act. Let your actions speak to help end racial injustice. Build up your own.
Community Involvement – Along, with contributing money, contributing time helps to build communities and collective efforts work.
Create – Send a message and express yourself through art…draw, capture a moment, write, sing, dance…just keep creating because these creative messages will be passed along through generations.
Vote – We elect the officials who make policy changes. Voting is change, so get out and vote.
Patronize – Buy black. Support (or start) a black business to help build economic empowerment.
Donate – Financial support always helps. Research organizations and donate money to take a stand and fight injustice.
Protest – If you feel comfortable, go out and show solidarity, but please be safe during this pandemic.
Keep sharing – An awareness is needed to keep this momentum going.

Reality

This movement towards ending racism has not and will not happen overnight. A fire has been lit, but the reality is that fires also die down. We need to keep this momentum going. Although starting with conversations at home, is a start, we have to push this further (out of our comfort zones) by coming together in support of one another to get rid of injustice and inequality.

Support and Persist

I can go on and on, but I won’t. I just want us all to remain supportive and persistent in this movement. Here are two of my mom’s poems (she has so many!) that I just wanted to share:

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Support

If you’re not going to do anything
You could at least support the ones who will
It would make you feel a whole
Lot better
If you would send some of your dollar bills

We’ve got to keep stepping out
We can’t allow ourselves to be boxed in
We must stand up proud and strong
And all of our causes defend

You see what’s happening
Yes, they’re starting all over again
If you say you don’t see it
I’d like to know where you’ve been

Been there done that
Can’t go back no more
This is a different fight and
We must be ready to score

Keep your money handy
That’s what it’s going to take
To solve this issue once and for all
And if we’re broke we’re going to break

And if we’re broke we’re going to break

-Linda H. Jones

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