The Time is Past Now
I have been writing and then deleting for the past week. I have wanted to join in the chorus but I have not wanted my voice to be louder than someone else’s, someone who has truly felt this pain as their reality, whereas mine has been from the sidelines. While I don’t know if this is the best way to join the chorus, I am trying all that I can think of. I hope and pray that you do too.
I wish I knew what it was like. I don’t, but I really wish I did.
While I haven’t felt it the same way, when I read the stories, place myself in their shoes, I can feel it.
My blood pulses faster, my heart beats in my ears.
I get...angry.
I get ... upset.
I want to yell at the person calling 911 for no reason. I want to stand between the two of them. I want to shield them from what is going on.
I want to give them a hug and tell them that it will all be ok....
Except
In a few days another instance, another injustice will happen just the same.
When did this become our reality?
When did school shootings become the norm and it took a global pandemic to stop them?
When did climate change hit a brink of no return and it took a global pandemic encapsulating the world to begin to heal itself?
When did it suddenly become “ok” to go on twitter rants with people you disagree with?
When did it become the norm to not believe those who came forward?
Where was the tipping point that we, as a society, began to backtrack to the 1800s?
When did it become taboo to hold the hand of the one your love?
I don’t pretend to have the answers. I don’t pretend to understand why or pretend that I have been the best ally.
I want to learn. I need to learn. I must to do my part.
Because this, this world that we are currently living in, is not a representation of what it should be.
Children should not fear for their lives going to school.
Women should not fear for the lives being outside their home.
People of different races should not fear that they are going to be shot simply because they are out exercising.
Everyone should not live in fear to express the love within their heart.
This is not America. This is not what I believe in.
This has to stop. This should not be where we are today.
This is unacceptable and preventable. The road is long and hard ahead. One that requires us all to ask ourselves the hard questions, look deep inside and see what unintentional biases we have that were instilled in us as children and we still carry on our backs.
This work is for the faint of heart and those that are screaming in the streets.
This work is for everyone.
We must do better.
I cannot keep silent anymore. My heart is aching trying to find the words and my mind is racing trying to come up with solutions and make lists of what to read next and who to ask questions to.
There cannot be anymore names. The time is past now, but we can catch up.
There are hundreds of resources out there to help us. Google what you can, talk with your friends and family. Have the hard conversations. Ask your communities to stand up, and stand together in solidarity. If you don’t feel comfortable or safe going to protests, donate. Even if you do, donate. Here are a handful of resources I have found that have helped me.
This is not easy work to do, this is hard, deep rooted, soul work. It needs to be done. Please, I beg you, do not turn a blind eye to all of this, do not sweep it under the rug. Talk about it and do something.
Check out the whole post here.
To see the series and learn more, click here
This is an excellent blog that Corinne Shutack wrote about and shared. It is a comprehensive list of 75 things we can do. It is an excellent place to start.
Source: Instagram.com/whitneyysimmons
Source: Instagram.com/tradesofhope
Source: Instagram.com/jenerous
