A Renewed Movement

by Garrett deGraffenreid

The past couple weeks Twitter has been ablaze with trending hashtags from both the black and white communities supporting the end of police brutality and reviving conversations on racism in 21st century America. #BlackLivesMatter, #ICantBreathe, and #CriminalingWhileWhite have showed the overwhelming emotion of a community in pain, and the need for reform in a society where black bodies are considered expendable.

These events have sparked protests across the country. New York City saw lively protests on the night of their tree lighting, people have continued marching in Ferguson, and universities like Berkeley in California and Wesleyan in Connecticut have been centers for students participating in mass “die-ins.”

What is our role in this movement? What can we as teens do to help start and continue this movement?

Social media has played an overwhelming role in jump-starting these campaigns. Twitter and tumblr have been large platforms for expression of emotion for those on all sides of these issues. Powerful images have surfaced from not only the USA, but in the UK, India, and perhaps most powerfully, in Palestine, showing people standing in solidarity for racial equality.

Increasing awareness is a powerful way to get involved, whether it be on Twitter or in a rally. Be so loud, your followers have no choice but to acknowledge what’s happening around them.

Although it’s easy to press a button and share things relating to these issues, having real conversations with people is the deepest way to try to gain understanding of these communities in pain, and express the need for reconciliation.

Some of the most important information I’ve gotten out of articles and blogs are that I need to stop talking and listen. As a white male, I have no business speaking for a group of people that need their own voices heard. The black community does not need a representative from the white community to speak for them. What they need whites to do is listen, stand behind them and raise them up in support on this march, and comfort them in their sorrow and pain.

Of course there are more courageous ways of involving yourself. Organizing and participating in peaceful protests, wearing shirts with slogans like “hands up don’t shoot” and “I can’t breathe” are actions that will most definitely attract attention. I advise you to do so with caution, and be aware of city rules policies before organizing such events.

Be brave, friends. Our generation is experiencing the beginning of much needed change. I have deep hope that we will do great things our parents are too scared to do. We will push this nation towards progress proving the equality of all people to create a nation where there is liberty and justice for all.