Black Lives Matter, Isn’t a Slogan
By: Carolyn Riker
Tags: Race, BlackLivesMatter, The Bad Influence, Justice, Change

Black Lives Matter, Isn’t a Slogan

It’s about protecting Black lives who are being killed at an insane rate because of their race. That’s beyond horrible. It is criminal.

Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash

I’ve been exhausted lately. Really exhausted. Some are saying it is because of the planets and the eclipses. Maybe so, but more importantly it’s because the state of our nation is infected by 400+ years of racism.

I know I’m not supposed to point a finger but I’m going to. I’m already seeing too many of my white friends resuming their newsfeed to cupcakes, kittens, and puppies.

I’ve noticed this trend before.

But I also notice how my Black friends continue to post their fears, worries, rage and the need for police reform, reparation, and protection for them and their families.

I favor the later because it is real. I won’t whitewash, dilute, forget, forgive, and get sucked up by today’s flavor of love and light when there’s so much hatred walking the earth.

Even as I’m writing this I’m shaking. It’s almost like I’m letting out a terrible secret and I’m supposed to shut up and keep quiet because that’s what I was trained to be: a nice, quiet, white, woman.

Well, fuck that shit. I’m tired of being nice and quiet. I can’t change the white part. I inherited that unearned freedom. Yet it isn’t an excuse to remain clueless.

I’m tired of walking a fine edge of polite to keep some fictitious peace when there’s more lying happening then telling the truth. Our US history is a scam and the education I had for the first 16 years rarely explained anything that I’m learning now.

Which brings me to another pet peeve: the white ones who hide behind their closed and safe doors. Or they prance around with their Gucci purse, French tucking their crisp white shirts, revering their highlighted roots.

“Namaste,” they’ll say with their hands clasped and a semi-bow, carrying their nicely rolled yoga mat.

What’s worse? How they claim to be feminist and social activist when it suits their needs. That’s not how it works.

I really want to kick them in the shin.

But I don’t.

Proper is ignorance as much as white is too sugary. I don’t care if that’s an improper analogy.

I am angry. And as a white person, if I’m angry than I can only imagine how my Black sisters and brothers feel — especially when they are told to ‘calm down.’

Fuck that shit. I don’t want to calm down. I don’t want my Black friends to calm down either. We need an uproar to bring attention to the fact innocent Black people are being murdered.

I’m afraid too many white people are being sucked into a giant vortex of apathy, skimming past the articles, petitions, etc., that are demanding attention and action.

And worse– ignoring how many black lives are dead because white supremacy and white privilege has turned the dial back to numb-out, I’ve gotta take a pic of another goddam rainbow and while I’m at it a selfie.

Yet, anger isn’t wrong.

I want to smash at least a dozen dishes, but I also don’t because I’ll have to clean it up.

So, instead? I write because at least that’s practical and sort of acceptable.

What can I do differently? How can I learn to be a better person — not superior. Just a better person who is against racism.

And so, here I am thinking how Black Lives Matter, isn’t a slogan. It’s not a bumper sticker. It’s not a cool hashtag.

It’s about Black lives who are being killed at an insane rate because of their race. That’s beyond horrible. It is criminal.

If what we, as white people, are seeing every single day doesn’t hurt or wake us up, I really don’t know what will.

As white people, we’ve got to accept we are the problem and racism won’t go away until we start taking responsibility to learn, undo our infectious beliefs, and make some serious changes to show how much Black Lives Matter.