Black Lives Matter

What is the world coming to? In this era of technology, connections, innovations and creativity, have human beings forgotten that all mankind is a family? It is 2020 and we are going through the pandemic of our lifetime. In these unprecedented and scary times, do we also need to remind ourselves that lives matter? Where is the world headed? Is this the legacy we want to leave for our kids?

I am an educator and in our classrooms to be all-inclusive we teach our students about different culture and races; so they appreciate the uniqueness and strength each one of them bring into the classroom. Do we need to teach this to our world too? Do the adults not know how to be kind, respectful and courteous to each other? Why are we biased towards some people? Are we scared? Are we mean? I think we are ignorant! There, I said it. Ignorance or not knowing about something may bring fear. How are we to show our empathy, our compassion, our love to all beings on earth- if we simply don’t care?

I feel strongly about equality and fair rights. I was shocked when I read about the Black history in my education courses. I am listing here few facts that I have learned as I dug deeper into African American history-

Slavery abolishment- 1865 (13th amendment)

Right to vote-1870 (15th amendment)

Women rights to vote-1920 (19th amendment)

Although the 19th amendment was passed on paper African American women still could not vote freely until 1965 that outlawed discriminatory practices like poll taxes and literacy test.

I admire African Americans for their family values, for their strong faith and for their perseverance, strength, patience, endurance and tolerance. I admire this race for their strength to face adversity and come out as winners, their tolerance to inequalities and come out in inclusiveness, and their strong family bonds and come out as a caring big family for their community.

What are some ways you can show you care?

1. Get educated
2. Speak up
3. Spread the awareness
4. Show your support

Speaking up can be speaking at a support rally, writing a piece ( like I am doing) or doing podcasts or PSA ( public service announcement). You don’t have to be a famous person to do any of this; remember a small gesture by common people can make a huge impact!

Below I am sharing stories from few of the strong women that I have had the privilege of meeting online on a social platform and learning about their personal experiences. They have given permission to share their stories on my blog, thank you! (Written as it is, with no changes)

#1 Written by Erin Edmonds:

As a wife in an interracial marriage, a mother and grandmother to 9 interracial children, I admit that I have never been profiled for my skin color, I havent been stopped for “DWB” or asked for my receipt as I exit a store just because I am black. I have seen it happen and have told my children over the years to just conform to avoid the consequences that may come to them because of their skin color. While its a mothers nature to worry I admit I was wrong to just let that behavior go. Today all that changes- I will do my part to stand up against racism!!! I stand against police brutally and I stand against anymore brothers or sisters having their lives taken so senselessly. Twice in my life I have been approached by white officers and asked was I “with this black male by choice or by force”. Once was with my ex husband when I was 17 yrs old in Manassas and the 2nd time was with Rodney in 1998 in Chantilly within 2 miles of our home. Both times I was shocked that they really thought I would be forced into a car with a black male against my will. The mindset that black people are always criminals or up to no good needs to stop. Criminals come in all shapes, sizes and colors. My childrens heritage doesnt automatically make them unlawful people. My hopes for racial equality and removing discrimination and blatant racism years ago has not come to fruition obviously as we are still here fighting the same battle today, in 2020. I promise to continue to stand up for this beautiful family that was given to me through marriage. It is full of black brothers and sisters, neices and nephews, 2 wonderful father in laws, 2 precious mother in laws and a 100 yr old grandmother. There is also so many aunts, uncles and cousins that I lost count years ago. I will stand to fight with them to bring justice for each of them and their future generations as well as black americans everywhere.
We must stop the killing of black men and women. This is not going to be swept under the rug. We as a Nation are watching and expecting results from those tasked as leaders. Unfortunately there are now more innocent victims because of the rioting, looters, and destruction of small businesses in cities around the USA. Many of these owners are also minorities. They may not be able to survive after Covid19 and now destruction of their business. I saw a post earlier today that clarifies a common misunderstanding for those that think the protesters are causing the destruction – read this and then read it again: PROTESTORS – PROTEST and LOOTERS – LOOT … there is a big difference in the two!!!

“Hate can not drive out hate, only LOVE can do that!
#whereisthelove

#2 Written by Heather Johnson:

One year ago my sons won the biggest award there is from the huge middle school that they graduated from as 8th graders. In a rare (unique?) move, the school awarded BOTH of them the Scholar Athlete of the Year award. They went on to have a stellar freshman year of high school this year— surpassing all expectations on the football field and in the classroom. Every teacher and coach they’ve ever had has told me that they are fine young men — the finest — exceptional — just imagine the highest accolades and compliments a mom could get — about their character and work ethic and etiquette and manners and behavior and leadership and coachability — that’s what I’ve been told by the people who know them best in every arena of performance and achievement. Especially in the past couple of years, my sons have been absolutely thriving at life. And it appears that the sky is the limit for these two.

My sons. My black sons. Who I cannot protect from the world in which I am raising them, where even the BEST and the BRIGHTEST and the most well-charactered well-mannered well-dressed all-the-highest-awards-won black male could be wrongly and falsely accused, harassed, tortured, killed, taken from their mother and the world — just for being black. I’m raising my sons in a context where I have to know every single hour of every single day of every single year that my most precious, my most adored, could be violently and arbitrarily taken from me at any moment because they are black. Would “justice” help me if it happens? I don’t think so. Because nothing would. There is no justice that could undo that injustice.

There is no way for me to explain how this feels as a mom. I want to scream, thrash about, run away from it and save them— but where could we go where they would be safe? I do my best— I want to dress them impeccably, make them put their hood down, teach them to smile and wave and shake hands and look in eyes, train them to obey authority and cooperate and don’t-even-look-at-her-the-wrong-way, and you have to work ten times harder and be ten times better and all the things that others can get away with you cannot so don’t even think about it and don’t be around it because just by association you’ll be the first in trouble and don’t run and don’t stay either and don’t move quick and move quicker and tuck your shirt in and speak properly and look at me when I’m talking to you and I cannot save you. I cannot save you. I cannot save you. If you are that man on the cement under that officer’s knee I cannot save you.

I work hard to keep my love and my hope above my fear. And it’s all hard.

They are so good. And they are no longer cute little black boys, they are sixteen year old young black men. And I could not be more proud of the extraordinary fine young black men that they are. They love their home, and their school, and their community, and they represent us all so well and they do their best every day. And yet, I cannot save them. And I could not be more scared. I am scared beyond anything I could ever convey to you. I tremble inside and wake up with nightmares and I fear for my gorgeous brilliant athletically gifted boys.

Please, if you are reading this, have mercy on us. Please do what you can to help me make this world safe for my beloved black sons. You can do that by standing up to injustice AS IT HAPPENS (not just after), by smiling at boys like mine— being gracious to them— assuming the best of them— expecting the most of them— hugging them close if you are close enough to hold them dear— building them up in a world that is constantly tearing them down— and assuring them that you’ve got their backs forever and always no matter what, that you’ll stand up for them. That even when their white mom isn’t around, and especially then, you’ll stand up for them. I cannot save them, but we can.

#3 Written by Daynell Wright:

I want the world to see what he(son) sees when he looks in the mirror. He’s an accomplished musician, an artist, he’s funny, compassionate, a runner, a great friend. The current climate makes me sick with worry. We have to dig deeper and beyond teaching children to be colorblind. Teach them to be color aware and learn all of the beauty and challenges that lie within people of different ethnicities. Let’s work together to erase the hate.

I’m so overwhelmed by all of your comments of support, personal message, shares and encouragement on my post yesterday. I appreciate the willingness to see the faults that lie within and the affirmation to make a concerted effort to change. Remember little black boys grow up to be black men and my son is not the enemy he’s amazing.
#erasethehate

#4 Written by Kattia Jackson Gordon:

My daughter was and is in a dark space and she used her go to outlet and wrote this. When she read it to me she was crying. It took everything in me not to break down . Because I can’t put a bandaid on this wound . I need everyone to see us , it’s no longer ok to go back to business as usual because it doesn’t affect you. when your fellow human beings are suffering. You can’t say they should have complied when she was just laying in her bed or he was sitting in his living room

I hope these real stories will help you get a glimpse of their lives. I hope these stories will get you to pause and ponder. I hope these stories will help spread positive awareness. Let us all stand together! Together we can, and together we will!!

Thank you for reading. Please share with others, if you can