Black Lives Matter. Black Lives have Worth.

This is a hard post to write. I’m a 30-something white woman living in one of the richest provinces in Canada. I might as well have a big PRIVILEGED stamp on my forehead. Maybe I do, but just can’t see it.

I am watching the news in the United States with a heavy heart and I am seriously scared. Not for my personal well-being. Aw heck no.

For the safety of some of my dearest friends in the United States. The obvious racism and systemic white privilege that is ingrained in our society is alive and well in 2016. I can see it. I am not blind to it. I will NOT make excuses for it and look for ways to discredit the validity of it. I will NOT say it isn’t happening. Because I can see it — every day in the news and in the lives of my friends and (thanks to Facebook’s kinda creepy newsfeed rules) their friends. I hear the stories. I don’t have to experience it. I won’t ever actually experience it. But I will listen to their experiences. I will elevate their words so that they may be heard.

EVERY DAMN DAY. And I know, in my heart and in my head that if it can happen in the US, the hatred and destruction is elsewhere.

I know we are not cushioned from racism in Canada. Our maple syrup and toques don’t shield us from everything. Go into any Canadian forum and you’ll see it. Ask any of my friends whose skin colour, name or accent doesn’t match the stereotype of “white” and they will tell you their memories from as far back as their memories can hold. Let’s be real here, I’m guilty of it just like anyone else. I fuck up too. I’m guilty of asking people what their ancestral background is because I am fascinated with human physical characteristics we all share and how they are prevalent in certain cultures because of human nomadic lifestyles. Yes, I am a nerd. But I know I shouldn’t go around asking people what their ancestral DNA holds too.

In junior high my friend told me she was taking an ethnic dance class to reflect her heritage. “There is a Canadian dance class?” I exclaimed. She just shook her head and said “ No Marissa — it’s an African dance class, I’m black”. No, being colourblind isn’t a thing.

Seeing people for who they are, recognizing them and accepting what they identify as — THAT’S A THING.

I am so guilty of enjoying my white privilege every day. I can get stopped by police for speeding and rummage through a glove compartment looking for my registration without getting shot. I don’t get denied bank accounts in foreign countries because of the colour of my skin. I don’t get the extra security search at airports (except when I am about to be late for a flight). There is so much more. I am not saying I have to give up those privileges — I just want them to be standard for every human on this planet.

Now I started this account for business and for it to be a business blog so where do I see this post fitting in? Well I’ve been studying self worth a lot lately. I’ve been researching where it comes from, how we develop it and what our life becomes because we have it.

When I look at the worth of one person versus the other — I see equality. As babies we begin to recognize ourselves as distinct individuals with unique features and personalities.

We all start as innocent children.

Now as we age, we’re subjected to a variety of internal and external factors that influence our self worth. RACISM IS ONE EXTERNAL FACTOR. There are many and I’m not here to discuss them all. Let’s focus on racism for today. When we are constantly referred to as “less than” it can affect our self worth. When our physical features are referred to as “less than” it can affect our self worth.

How do we develop a strong self worth when others around us are systemically prejudiced and they continually judge us based on those disgusting systems? And not just judgy judgersons but intentionally keep us from accessing opportunities that would help elevate us. In business, I’m referring to being able to charge your full worth in your products & services and have clients who recognize that worth pay your fees gladly.

In the US with POC and around the world where we are seeing genocide occur based on colour of skin or religion, it’s being able to live. That’s it. It’s going home to their families. It’s having a voice. It’s the right to be.

The right to be.

The right to not be judged based on external appearances. The right to not be murdered because of external appearances.

If you’re reading this and you want to know what you can do to make significant change in the world by eliminating racism, here is my take but please go do research for yourself. And by research, I don’t mean going up to your nearest and dearest POC and ask them. Get on Google. Look it up. Educate YOURSELF.

But here are a few things I recommend:

Stand Up.
When you hear your friends and family make racist comments, say #alllivesmatter, or make excuses of why a POC was murdered — say something. I like saying “That’s racist.” Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But it’s a clear declaration of what just happened. Oh sure, you might lose friends. But really, do you want those jackasses in your circle anyways? What do you think they say about you?

Don’t be a passive ally, be a partner.
Ally is a bit of a buzzword lately. But it’s also passive — it’s like saying when you need me, I’ll come help. Awesome when you need to move your entire house on a weeknight. Not so awesome when racism is a daily move and shift in the world. We can be proactive by elevating the POC voices in our communities. Share those voices. Share them all. Don’t worry if your friends get tired of you sharing it over and over again. They can always google cute kitten videos on YouTube if they need a fix and your feed is full of proactive conversations about racism. Help educate your friends & family so they can begin their own journey — awake to the real story happening.

Vote Wisely
In Alberta and Canada we just had elections that spoke volumes. We wanted change and boy, did we get it. But we need to start looking beyond budget numbers and start asking our elected officials about racism and how they are going to work to purge it from our elections, our government and our policies. Don’t wait for the next election — tell your government what you want and expect and ask for them to prove how it’s being done.

If you made it this far — cool beans. I’m sure there will be some comments I’ll have to shake my fist at and I’ll probably lose some friends but I don’t really give a rat’s red ass about social stats. I care about having my friends alive, thank you very much.