“Babe, only white people say that.” Yep, I’m an ignorant white person, too. I get called out by own spouse from time to time. He’s very patient with me and knows that I just don’t know because I’ve been white my entire life. However, that doesn't mean that I can't LEARN. And learning I am! I see a lot of white people (mostly white women) complaining that they can’t “say anything right” when trying to support POC. Maybe go back through your communications and see what you’re saying. Are you saying “I’m sorry about George Floyd, BUT…” (psst, a lot of you are). Maybe say "I'm appalled and I'm ready to listen to stop this from happening again," and then just shut up and listen. What are you doing to change? Are you learning, watching, listening? Every single time I hear about another death or injustice, I realize I’m not doing nearly enough to be an ally. This time I’ve realized, I need to put my money where my mouth is. It’s not enough to argue with people and try to explain why murdering, abusing, and holding back black and brown people is wrong. I need to help those who are fighting in ways I can’t – legally, medically, etc. I’ll be donating to the NAACP Des Moines chapter monthly, forever, going forward. Maybe you can, too? The support is needed until there’s equality ... I hope that’s soon but from what I’m seeing from leaders, government officials, and my Facebook news feed … it’s going to be a while yet. I don't have the answers. But I know who does.Don’t look to me or any other white person for answers. We have no place trying to “work this out” because many times we’re so used to our white privilege that we don’t even know we’re oppressing someone and our ideas might actually do more harm. This blog post isn't about me having answers. It's about me showing support. I support Black Lives Matter. And my business is 100% behind equality, being anti-racist, and supporting Black Lives Matter. I'd recommend starting here if you're ready to get on board and find out WHO you should be looking to for answers ... This is a great article if you’re wondering where to start and who to listen to: 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice Black Lives Matter.
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AuthorFirst, I'm the mother of three crazy, sassy, sarcastic, hilarious children. Second, I work in the world of social media, email, digital marketing. Third, I'll probably try to tell you what to do. Archives
December 2024
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