Are YOU My Ally When No One is Watching? #BreonnaTaylor #GeorgeFloyd
As I watch and stand next to so many White and non-Black people during these police brutality protests, I could not help but wonder, would these same people who are standing and chanting with me have this same energy when no one is watching?
I say this because there is an overwhelming amount of White and non-Black people out in these protest streets. And, yes I said out in these protest streets. While I’m happy to know that there are people who would want to stand for justice, I’m still left wondering, if all these people who seem to be truly connected to making what’s wrong, right in America exists, how then would something like a George Floyd or Breonna Taylor still “be” in 2020?
A former White co-worker of mine decorated her office with Black Lives Matter hashtags and Pan-African red, black, and green colors. You would most likely find her loudly speaking ill of Trump and how disgustingly racist he is at every available chance. She watched Atlanta Housewives, said “hey boo” was pro-women, pro-Black to say the least, and carried hot sauce in her bag. She was known as the fighter of and for justice in the office. And, in the same breath, was one of the most hateful and covert racist females that I have ever met. But, she wasn’t the only one. Furthermore, at this place, most of my former White co-workers (not all) and other non-Black co-workers were like this. If the cameras were rolling, and/or if there was an opportunity to be seen on the “front lines” that’s where you’d find them. If there was an opportunity for people to hear how good they spoke on justice, inclusiveness, equality, and being equitable, they’d be right in the midst of the action. But, behind closed doors, they plotted to get Black people terminated, plotted to get a Black person demoted, blocked opportunities, kept quite when a Black person was being treated unfairly, and led or was a part of covert bullying efforts against Black people.
One of the unfortunate parts about this behavior is that you’d never be able to pinpoint it because their behavior was covert and sophisticated. After all, how would you be able to say someone who marches in a Black Lives Matter march and fight for justice for Black people, is racist? You can’t. I mean, you can, but you’d be looking dumb and jaded. But, because I’ve had this direct experience with people like this, I know this type of so-called ally exists. And, I believe that I can safely say that most if not all Black people would want this shit to stop not now, but right now.
To all White people and non-Black people who are marching, chanting, and organizing in the name of equality for Black people, I ask you, when you’re in the midst of your non-Black friends, what is your conversation like when discussing Black people? When you’re around your dinner table with your family, what is your conversation like when discussing Black people? When you’re on the job and you see and know something unfair and unjust is happening to a Black person, what do you do? What have you done? Did you take part in it? Did you stop it? Did you hold them accountable? OR did you turn a blind eye like the officers that watched George Floyd die? You see, it’s that same blind eye that has gotten a man neck crushed from a White supremacist knee.
Yes, it’s wonderful that you would want to show solidarity, march, chant, and fight for justice with Black people in the open, but we’re going to need you to keep that same energy when no one is watching. Again I ask, are you my ally when no one is watching? #BreonnaTaylor #GeorgeFloyd
