#BlackOutTuesday

2 June 2020

The past week has seen the world explode in protest in the face of racism following the death of George Floyd at the hands of an American police officer. An unarmed black man has once again been brutally murdered by a corrupt system designed to protect. But who does it protect? As a middle-class white female, I live in privilege and often take opportunities presented to me for granted. I do not feel unsafe in the hands of the law. Why should this be any different simply due to the colour of a person’s skin? This is the reason for the mass protests against racism across the United States. 

For the past week, cities across the United States have seen mass destruction as protestors and police clash. A number of people have commented on the protests, arguing that violence solves nothing and that destroying businesses by looting only reinforces stereotypes and supports racist assumptions. These people are one of the problems. First, they do not understand that much of the violence is initiated by the police. The majority of those protesting are pursuing peaceful protests to raise awareness and to be actively anti-racist. Second, much of the looting and violence on behalf of the protestors is done in anger. In many ways there is a need for some more radical protesting. People pay attention to these protests more than peaceful ones, which means they are inevitably getting the message across in one way or another.

I read an article written by Barack Obama yesterday that particularly resonated with me. In it, he made the point that although protesting and actively showing solidarity with the black community empowers the racial cause and helps in the fight against racism, it doesn’t last. People will continue to be angered by the racial prejudice that persists throughout the world but eventually the anger subsides as other issues take precedent. The only way to truly make a difference is to vote; to make a permanent change. And this has to be done at all levels. While the majority of people may vote in general elections for the nation’s leaders, few take part in voting in more local elections. It is these elections that help to determine the people that control our education system, local government, council, and law enforcement. It is these elections that hold the predominant power in deciding whether we want to live in a prejudice and unjust society. 

The past week has seen a number of posts on social media encouraging people to educate themselves on the racial issues in our society. This is perhaps one of the most positive aspects to come from the recent turmoil. But the posts on social media have also begun to worry me. I am worried that people aren’t posting things in support of the movement because they truly believe in it. They aren’t posting because they understand the significance behind what is happening. They aren’t posting because they intend to make a permanent change to the way that they think and to be actively anti-racist. While it is great to see so many people demonstrating their support, I worry that they are participating because they view it as a trend; because everyone else is doing it and consequently they feel they should also post. They may worry about what people will think of them if they say nothing. But this is the issue with social media; it makes us selfish. Although the intention may be to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement, some people will be doing it for themselves, not for others. Today has seen a significant number of these posts in response to the music industry’s call to have a “Black Out” on social media in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. People post a simple black square with #blackouttuesday written below. I myself have participated. However, I decided to post a quote along with the image. I felt that not enough people posting these squares understood why they were doing it. While I understand that some of those participating do understand the significance of what they are supporting, the overwhelming majority are uneducated on the subject and are simply doing it because everyone else is. Educating the population on racial issues is therefore extremely important if we are to overcome the issues of racial prejudice in the near future.

This week has left me feeling anger, confusion, sadness, frustration, and disbelief. Anger because in response the protests occurring across the United States, President Trump has threatened to use the military against the protestors instead of condemning the police officer that killed an innocent black man. Confusion because there are so many differing opinions on the issue and because people are arguing that “All Lives Matter” when, at the moment, the issue taking precedent is prejudice against black lives. Sadness seeing the despair and agony of the black community at the loss of another life due to racial hatred. Frustration at the number of people posting on social media about the issue because they view it as a trend or are thinking about the ways in which it affects them, not others. And finally, disbelief that in today’s society racial prejudice continues to be a prominent issue with little response from the world’s most powerful leaders. 

While I will never be able to understand the pain and frustration of the black community, I hope to support them as much as possible. I hope to become more actively anti-racist. I stand in solidarity with my friends, my family, now and in the future, in the hope that one day we will view racial prejudice as an issue of the past. Unfortunately, this may not happen in my generation. I believe that we can work to improve the lives of future generations by educating our children and grandchildren, by making a difference using our democratic right to vote, and by acknowledging that racism continues to exist within our society, existing within our actions and not just within the things that we say. 

~ Cerys