Student Voices: Black Lives Matter
The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and numerous innocent lives in the US sparked a wave of protests over the past year, under the Black Lives Matter (BLM) banner. Black Lives Matter campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards Black people. The international human rights campaign began on social media in 2013 with the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag and has since gone on to lead calls for Black people to be treated fairly by authorities in the USA and around the world. The last year has been very eye-opening, and it was a long overdue wake-up call for millions of people.
Being white, I instantly realized that I had to speak up for the injustice in our world. Being only sixteen, I knew that my voice would never reach millions of people, but I felt that the least I could do was confront the people I knew. I had countless uncomfortable conversations with family members and friends. Sharing my opinion on a “touchy” subject was never easy but had to be done. I understand having family members or friends who have completely different opinions and values than you may be tricky and heartbreaking. However, I believe that if the Black community has to fear their lives every day, we white folks need to have the decency to speak up for their hardships. Kevan Yenerall, a Clarion University political science professor said, “It’s incumbent on white people like myself, who’ve been very lucky and who have relatively privileged white-collar experiences, to embrace this multigenerational, multiracial movement. It is so difficult in our imperfect system to build, mobilize, and sustain coalitions. So any time you have a chance to foster this kind of movement, these kinds of coalitions, to try to build some positive change, you need to get involved.”
It is what you do with the privilege of your skin color that matters. I strongly believe that white silence is violence. If you aren’t speaking up for something that is so clearly wrong, you are condoning the violence. It is the silly saying that Hamilton engraved in our brains that becomes so prevalent during these times. “See something, say something.” To stand together, we must stand up for one another, and recognize the fear, the hurt, and the outrage of the Black community. I strongly urge you to take that step and speak out for what is right. No longer can we allow racial injustice and innocent lives to be taken. I understand that I will never understand. However, I stand for and with you.
