F.ace E.verything A.nd R.ise

Today, I sit in front of my MacBook, and I don’t have the slightest inkling on where to begin. There is so much to bring up and discuss and all of it entails tact and respect to the lives, emotions, livelihood, and people involved. I am not a person of color, I am in zero position to lecture anyone on the ways they should feel growing up Black in America. The only things I can do is speak up for the injustices which I see and witness and do all I can to contribute to the annihilation of systemic racism and prejudices in America. There aren’t a lot of times I will become so consumed with rage and sadness by a video I see online that incenses me to want to immediately do something. And I understand the anger felt across the nation and kneel in solidarity with all those standing up for what is right, and never want to take away from the movement being that I am a white Jewish girl who may sympathize with all that I see, but due to my appearance, can never fully understand what it is like and do not ever want to diminish or take away from those who can speak firsthand on the matter. I was almost hesitant to make any posts on social media, because I do not want to convey a ‘holier than thou’ message trying to save the world from behind the screen of my computer when I have not suffered personally at the hands of racism. But I also knew if I didnt use my blog as the one platform to allow my voice to be heard and speak up for what is right, then I would be just as bad as those who turn a blind eye to the hatred and injustices all around us.

I grew up in the melting pot of South Florida, and was fortunate to have friends from all walks of life. In fact, my first real job was waitressing at a Jamaican restaurant for 2 years. I miss that food. And although people may never have personally benefited from the privilege of their skin color, to say that it does not exist, is an ignorant and false statement. We are talking about an overall construct, and not a case by case basis, and to pretend it is not an issue just because you haven’t personally benefited from it, is an insult to the highest degree. I can’t speak on every day dealings with racism and I will never know what it’s like to be fearful that my child will be judged in a split second because of the color of their skin. Hearing a grown man cry out for his deceased mother while in the throes of losing consciousness and eventually dying should horrify you as well as disgust you and those wails haunt my mind and break my heart. What I can comment on is my personal experiences growing up in such a diverse multicultural area and dating and engaging in relationships across a spectrum of backgrounds. There were times I received hateful and derogatory slurs hurled in my direction for dating someone of a different race, and unfortunately it was always by white men (teenagers, I should say, as I was in high school and my early college years), who seemed offended I wasn’t entwined with someone also white. And I never understood it. We weren’t hurting anyone, so why couldn’t we be happy pursuing a relationship with a partner we cared about? And this is still only a fraction of the hate so rampant in daily society.

I hate the term”colorblind” imposed by self righteous people who truly don’t understand. Unless you are actually blind, you definitely see color, and should honor those who’s experiences and life’s circumstances differ from yours because of the color of their skin. I grew up a huge Harry Potter fan, and I remember asking as a kid, why J.K. Rowling always specified when a character was black, but not white. I just found it odd to make that clarification. In fact, when the play, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ came out, people were up in arms that Hermione was played by a black actress. Rowling stated publicly that it could be possible since she never explicitly stated her skin color, and I was like “yeah, but you made sure to designate countless other characters as black so…..” It’s sometimes just the minor things that the majority of people tend to gloss over that make a world of difference. Acknowledge your peers and that their life’s circumstances may differ drastically from your own due to appearance. To the people who wrongfully think racism is obsolete in America, I hope they wake up to the realities we are facing as a country. The fact that people even have to ask if the murder by the police officer in Minnesota was racially motivated proves that racism is still alive and well. And if you’re not doing your part, regardless of race, gender, age, or ethnicity, to stand up for what is right and stare hatred in the face and revolutionize for good, then you are a lost soul.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried and afraid. Afraid for my friends who are facing all of these social injustices, afraid for my friends who are judged, sometimes lethally, for their appearance, and afraid for my brother, who became law enforcement because he truly cares about people. Yes, my brother is a police officer, but my brother is so pure and genuine that it saddens me others who have taken that oath do not uphold those same values. My brother is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt, has (reluctantly) fought MMA, broke multiple record in his physical fitness examinations, won awards for his GPA, and scored one of the highest test scores in North Carolina state history. His department as well as the one in my town, marched alongside the peaceful protestors, kneeled with them, and prayed with them. I say he fought MMA reluctantly because he is the definition of a lover, not a fighter, and he literally can not lie. He is so kind, genuine, honest, and pure, and the exact type of person I would want representing that badge. Likewise I have a lot of friends protesting the injustices peacefully, yet if you watch the media, they are portraying everyone out there as violent martyrs, looting stores, and leaving mayhem, destruction, and anarchy in their wake. I am seeing countless people share images online of damages occurring, yet when I reverse-image search these on Google, they are old news stories, some as far back as 2014. People having the wool pulled over their eyes in order to instigate more fury and create a greater divide and I am weeping for the American people. I will not run from this fear, but instead, rise against it and face it head on.

To be silent right now would be to remain complicit with all the horrors and atrocities occurring. I will forever stand alongside those being indiscriminately persecuted and will be on the right side of history when it comes to fighting for what is right. The divisive and incendiary atmosphere running rampant through our country is beyond scary. It seems to be so easy to hate someone we don’t even know that I am questioning every single day why it isn’t just as easy to love? Allow your voices to be heard and also learn to stop speaking to allow the voices of those with personal experiences to project their viewpoints and make a change. Respect and compassion go a long way, and the entire world would benefit tenfold by embracing one another. We must keep fighting for what is right, and denounce those who wish to do harm and are in positions to exude such hateful practices. That officer had multiple charges against him for police brutality, and at what point do we start holding all those accountable who allowed someone like that to continue in their profession. It should have happened decades ago. We the People; the primary founding principles this country was built on, love thy neighbor, and always fight for justice and equality. Together, we are strong, but if we continue to isolate from another, we will crumble. I will forever speak up for what is right, and will continue trying my best to let the good triumph over evil. Fear won’t dictate my life, and I will do what I can to make sure I stand up to eradicate fear-fueled propaganda and discourse. United we stand and divided we fall.