BLACK LIVES MATTER
It’s hard to know how to address what is happening in the world right now but it feels weird to go on posting without mentioning it. I don’t know if this this post is the best way to approach things but I would rather try and be wrong than not try at all. However, I do realise I am not an authority on the subject, so I will preface this post by saying it is intended for white readers. Black people already know all this.
The unrelenting systemic racism seen throughout the world, in the U.S., in the U.K., AND in Ireland, is horrific and needs to stop. The only way that is going to happen is if white people acknowledge their privilege and begin the hard and sometimes uncomfortable work of becoming anti-racist. It is not enough to just believe yourself to not be a racist. To be honest, in my view, those who are not actively anti-racist are complicit in a racist system and therefore can not make the case that they are not racist. Black people have been dealing with this for their entire lives; they have been called slurs, they have been beaten up, they have been murdered and they have been shouting as loud as they can about it for a long time. It is time for white people to amplify those voices. To ignore and deny those voices and the repeated recounting of their experiences of racism is inhumane. However, it’s not enough to just listen and sympathise anymore. We need to use the privilege we were born with to make changes and we need to start upending the system that is killing black people in so many horrific ways.
On a more personal note, I have found the last few weeks exhausting, as I’m sure a lot of people have. I had some trouble coming to terms with that because I realise I am in the privileged position of being able to turn away from the discussion and live my life without it impacting me if I were to chose to do that. But my therapist reminded me that because black people have been dealing with this for generations, they have developed resources within themselves to deal with this and process everything better than white people. This is not something that is going to be solved overnight so it is okay to take my time and figure out how I fit into everything and what I can do to help. In fact, it is important that we make our involvement sustainable, we need to be in this for the long game.
I still have a lot of work to do in figuring out how I can help. I have shared a lot of information on social media, and I have attended a march at the US embassy. I am also beginning to be actively involved with the United Against Racism group here in Ireland, after becoming a member over a year ago. There is a lot of work to be done. I think the best things we can do at the moment is educate ourselves and figure out what we can change at a local level. I’ve seen a lot of support coming out for the Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S. from many different countries, and while this is important we also have to recognise that this is not just an issue in a far away land. It is happening in our own back garden too and we’re more likely to be able to have an impact in the countries we live in and where we have voting rights.
In my opinion, that is how we create meaningful change throughout the world, by everyone working towards dismantling the systemic racism happening right in front of their eyes. For example, in Ireland, we need to work towards abolishing Direct Provision, the system for asylum seekers. It is a racist inhumane system and that is where Irish people need to direct their attention. And I think that is happening, a lot of Irish people I know who have been vocal about the racism in the U.S. have also been pointing out that we need to look at the Direct Provision system here too. However, I also know a lot of Irish people who will say things like “well black people don’t get murdered by the police here so we don’t have a problem with racism here”, but that is simply not true and I don’t think it’s helpful to compare the level and type of racism perpetrated in different countries. The simple fact is, there are COUNTLESS people of colour who have experienced racism in Ireland and every Irish person should be enraged by that. Things needs to change.
I have a lot more to say but I think this is a good start and I plan to write more posts about this in the future.
Educate yourself, use your voice and look after yourself x
P.S. There are a lot of resources out there at the moment, but I’ve put together a small list below that I’ve been working on as a start.
THINGS TO WATCH
13th (2016) - Netflix
When They See Us (2019) - Netflix
4 Little Girls (1997)
The Hate U Give (2018)
THINGS TO READ
I’m currently reading (or listening to)
Don’t Touch my Hair by Emma Dabiri
Natives by Akala
Between the World and Me by Coates, Ta-Nehisi
Also on my audible wishlist are:
Why I’m No Longer Taking To (White) People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Here’s a couple of anti-racist reading list:
A Reading List On Race For Allies Who Want To Do Better
Anti-Racist Reading List from Ibram X. Kendi
ANTI-RACIST REASOURCES
Medium has a great list of different resources that you can find here.