After a very overwhelming and traumatic past couple weeks, I would be ignorant if I did not understand why I felt that way. George Floyd was murdered in the hands of people who we should seek refuge. Know the name. It has almost become a trend for the police/people with authority, whether in the US or UK, to kill and target black people. If I am to be completely real, I still have not been able to bring myself to watch the video footage of George being pinned down, with someone’s knee on his neck because:
It is too close to home.
George Floyd was is a black man. So is my dad. So are my brothers. So are my friends. For someone who has anxiety, life is long. If I could see that footage, I would also be able to imagine my loved ones in that same position. That would make me sick, that would also instil pure hatred in me. I don’t need that. That’s just me.
Just like the nation/black community, my heart broke just hearing about it.
When you match what you hear with what you see, you cannot deny how real it is. I was listening to a lecture at work and Einstein was quoted:
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”
So, knowing that the maltreatment of black people is solely based on race and, that it could be anyone means that, I will never be able to imagine or see a system or a world where black people are placed on an equal footing as white people. I won’t be able to imagine a reality whereby black people can go for jogs, own nice cars, own nice homes or just mind our business’ without being a target. If I can’t imagine that, I will only know a life full of fear, misery and hatred.
Linked to the point above, I don’t want to see that and become desentivised to it.
If I do become desentivised to it, it becomes normal. I won’t go in too deep, but there are detrimental consequences of normalising cruelty. But, the dangers include (generational) trauma and that is not conducive for a healthy mental wellbeing. Im not a psychologist, if you don’t believe me though, pick up a book.
Many of us have become desentivised to it! I’ve heard, and even thought, “Police kill us [black people] every day, why is George Floyd’s case different?” Do you know shocking that question even is. How can someone even answer that question?
I don’t have the answer for that question - I don’t know what makes George Floyd special. From a Christian’s stand point, it consoles me to believe that he served his purpose through death. I hope I don’t offend anyone by saying this. It’s sad. Black people are known to be so divided. We’re divided by skin tone, we are still divided in different countries from our motherland. But, look how George Floyd has brought us together. At least 40 countries protested according to CNN! That’s mad.
What I’m learning and loving about black power
The effects of protesting cannot go without mention. This has brought attention to those who have been blissfully ignorant about the issue of race. We have officers being charged. We have people using buying power to boycott these businesses that have never operated in the interest of black people. I heard, the last time black people made this conscious effort to use their buying power is in the Martin Luther King Jr/Rosa Park days. Many black people, joined forces (some without shoes) and, did not buy buss tickets. Apparently, is had a massive impact on America’s economy. I’m learning that black people WERE Central Park. We had our own businesses, banks, supermarket and, because they saw that we were successful without them, they burned it down.
Sidetone: Akon really has been out here! He is providing electricity/light to countries in African. AKON IS MINING FOR DIAMONDS!
Racist Britain had me thinking that the UK had nothing to do with slavery. We have a whole history that is not being taught in schools. I was thinking white heroes were the only participants in WWI and WWII. Black and Asian men were promised the independence of their countries, from colonial rule, in return for their service.
All these “go back to your country chants,” has me confused. This is my country. My ancestors fought for this.
Black lives have always mattered!
I’ve listed some materials. No, I did not reference them properly because I do this for fun, not because I will be graded on it. So…
Yeah, that Einstein quote was pinched from WIKI, do me for plagiarism.
Black trauma
Articles:
Books:
Shook One, by Charlemagne the god
Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II
Why I am no longer talking to white people about race, Reni Eddo-Lodge
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