Keep that Same Energy
There’s the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, and then there’s the American pandemic to which, after 400 years, there still remains resistance to finding a cure.
State-sponsored terrorism has managed to outshine COVID-19. Ain’t that something…
Every so often, there is an incident so egregious — to even the lesser observer — that it spurs national eruption. The murder of George Flyod is just the latest in a string of public attacks on Black bodies in America. Not even children are spared.
I thank God for cell phones. It’s not that racism is worse — although certainly the criminal in the White House has amplified all forms of hate — but it’s that more and more people are boldly recording what we’ve known to be true for four centuries.
We know from history that many protests and riots in the United States and worldwide have been incredibly effective in forcing change. After all, the United States of America was quite literally founded on riots. I’m from Massachusetts and our history includes the riots that began the Revolutionary War.
More recently, the Detroit, Stonewall, and Kent State riots are prime examples of actions that have been effective in forcing policy changes. Nelson Mandela understood this, saying in 1961 that “after a long and anxious assessment of the South African situation, I, and some colleagues, came to the conclusion that as violence in this country was inevitable, it would be unrealistic and wrong for African leaders to continue preaching peace and non-violence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force.”
Society loves to sanitize the likes of Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. History will have you believe that they got up, said a few flowery speeches, and all was well. These were radical leaders, known as “terrorists” and “agitators” in their time. You’d probably hate them if they were alive today. We have conveniently forgotten the role of the urban riots of the 1960s in forcing civil rights protections for Black Americans. Society erases the role that armed groups like the Black Panther Party and Deacons for Defense and Justice had in defending Black lives.
To be clear, I’m not advocating for violence. There’s a lot of collateral damage from riots that causes much harm. We are also seeing the co-opting of legitimate grievances by violent and toxic forces, including white supremacists, anarchists, Russia, and others who don’t share our agenda for justice. We can’t allow the anger and heartbreak of Black Americans to be abused. We shouldn’t allow the continued destruction of our lives to lead to the destruction of our communities, small businesses, homes, etc.
I’m a bridge builder. I prefer the path of peace — we don’t win by erecting walls — but I know that riots are a manifestation of exasperation of the highest degree. These experiences and feelings are raw and valid. There’s a famous quotation from Martin Luther King’s 1968 “The Other America” speech: “A riot is the language of the unheard.” Equally powerful is his follow up rhetorical question: “What is it that America has failed to hear?”
America hears riots.
But America also hears other ways of action. Some of my friends — Black and non — have asked me recently what they can do to respond in this moment. I’d like to offer some thoughts, in no particular order, knowing that this is not an exhaustive list of actions you can take:
1. Vote: register to vote and vote in every election. I don’t care if there’s a random election on a Thursday for your town’s dog catcher. Vote. Every position matters. I’m a Democrat, but it’s not enough to vote for someone with a “D” after their name. Find Democrats who actually believe in justice, equity, and opportunity for all. Take the time to read their policies. Do they believe in Medicare for All? How about labor rights and livable wages? Student debt forgiveness, free college, and universal childcare? What about affordable housing, pathways to homeownership, and a green economy? Will they fight the prison and military industrial complexes? What are their tax policies? Make sure your friends and relatives are registered to vote and actually turn out.
2. It’s not all Presidential: there are numerous other positions that are important. Please vote for Joe Biden. We cannot afford another four years of the Trump Misadministration. But there are many other races happening at the federal, state, and local levels that impact daily life. I’m definitely concerned about the White House, but I’m equally focused on the U.S. Senate. We have the real opportunity this year to flip seats including Maine, Colorado, and Arizona, but we also need to maintain our seat in Alabama. The stakes are too high to not have a holistic approach.
3. Civic engagement: voting is just one action. What is civic engagement? Civic engagement is all about taking action to improve your community. Civic engagement is about solving problems and identifying opportunities. It’s about participating in the life of your community, working to make a positive impact on the world around you and beyond. Civic engagement manifests in different ways, including joining a neighborhood association, registering people to vote, building awareness around an issue, raising funds for charity, volunteering, running for office, fighting for civil and human rights, mentoring youth, etc. There’s no singular definition.
4. Learn: please take the time to learn more about history. And not the sanitized history you were taught in school. Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States remains a prolific book that every American should read. Also read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, White Fragility by Robin Diangelo, Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, just to name a few.
5. Spend, spend, spend: spend your money on businesses owned by Black people. This could be Black restaurants, but also Black plumbers, musicians, landscapers, graphic designers, accountants, hair stylists, jewelers, etc. Put your money where your stated values are. Also take your money out of predator banks that continue to exploit Black people.
6. Check your mental health: pause. Breathe. These are enormously painful times. If you’re like me, you’ve lost sleep these past few days. Between COVID-19 and the ongoing attacks on Black lives, “how are you?” has become a loaded question. I’ve been struggling to answer it. Consider shutting your phone off for a day or two. Find a friend, clergy member, or therapist to talk to. At any moment, if you are in distress and have thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for free and confidential support 24/7: 1–800–273–8255.
7. Talk to your kids: if you are a parent or guardian, please take the time to talk to your children. Help them understand what’s going on. Wherever it’s safe, include them in your civic actions — phone banking, protests, community conversations, etc. If you’re white: remember that racism is learned, and it is never too early to teach your kids how to fight racism and hatred of all kinds.
8. Shut up: listen more than you speak. Especially if you’re not Black. And don’t continue to ask Black people to explain racism. Don’t second guess Black anger and hurt. Take the time to research these issues on your own.
9. Bail funds: consider contributing to bail funds to support those who are held in custody and cannot afford bail. I just contributed to the Minnesota Freedom Fund in support of those in Minnesota arrested while taking action and now find themselves in unsafe facilities. There are many similar organizations in other states. And to be clear, we should eliminate cash bail in America.
10. White leadership: white people need to step up. My thoughts on white privilege are similar to that of male privilege. My gender gives me an upper hand. Although I didn’t ask for it, I certainly benefit from sexism, patriarchy, and heteronormativity. I try to respond to male privilege by creating space for women and non-binary people. It’s not enough to be an ally. White people need to be on the front lines fighting racism in workplaces, hospitals, restaurants, schools, and on the streets. We have to be co-conspirators for justice.
The anger we are experiencing is righteous. The heartbreak we feel is real. Keep that same energy — today, tomorrow, on Election Day, and in the years to come.
