I experience microagression and racism all the time. I either get looked at a certain way, or get said things to because of the color of my skin. This isn't anything new and it is a result of our history yet I can't seem to fathom how much it affects society in the year 2014. Micro aggressions may also be a result of how a person feels about themselves because of what society has put on them. This is all a result of a white man thinking that he is inferior to a black man because of the color of their skin and I wish by now that things would have changed but that isn't the case.
Now history is repeating itself in a way than never before. Not only are we getting mistreated from time to time, not only do black people have to feel a certain way, but black people are getting killed because of the color of their skin by the people who are in fact suppose to protect them. I could speak forever about this issue and as a youth social justice leader, I could speak on the way I think these issues can be solved but I don't know the expense at which it may be achievable.
EDUCATION, EMPHATY, and UNITY. These three words for me is what can get America through this tragic time during this war between people of color against law enforcement. Its about knowing the problem and addressing it. Yes "we can't breath and black lives matter" but how do we get to point where a white man is able to empathize with us? By educating together.
So now the question to ask is: How do we make black lives matter? By educating ourselves on the history of our people, educating ourselves in schools to make better lives for ourselves, by educating ourselves which our rights as equal citizens of this country, and most importantly educating those around us on who we really are versus who they think we are because of our appearance. So that they don't believe that very black male with a hoodie is a threat. It is about trying as best as you can to educate those around you that are ignorant to the idea of what a stereotype is and what it has done. Empathy is feeling what another person is feeling, walking in another persons shoes; and as impossible as it may be for a white person to understand what it feels like to be a black person, it is about getting to a point where you can try to feel. I believe it is important for people to try to understand others in all walks of life. Lastly unity for me is the most important thing. I believe that no man can obtain success on their own. It is true and my experiences have taught me that. It is about creating a support system, connecting with people who believe in the right things and working together to make possible what could be impossible alone. The protest that have been going all over the country are great examples of what unity is and it doesn't have to stop there.
I am happy to see that there are people living by these three things and my prayer is that one day things will be better than they are now.
Lastly I would like to say that prayer is also an important tool. If there is anything that I believe strongly in doing along with all of these things is to pray.
EDUCATION, EMPHATY, and UNITY. These three words for me is what can get America through this tragic time during this war between people of color against law enforcement. Its about knowing the problem and addressing it. Yes "we can't breath and black lives matter" but how do we get to point where a white man is able to empathize with us? By educating together.
So now the question to ask is: How do we make black lives matter? By educating ourselves on the history of our people, educating ourselves in schools to make better lives for ourselves, by educating ourselves which our rights as equal citizens of this country, and most importantly educating those around us on who we really are versus who they think we are because of our appearance. So that they don't believe that very black male with a hoodie is a threat. It is about trying as best as you can to educate those around you that are ignorant to the idea of what a stereotype is and what it has done. Empathy is feeling what another person is feeling, walking in another persons shoes; and as impossible as it may be for a white person to understand what it feels like to be a black person, it is about getting to a point where you can try to feel. I believe it is important for people to try to understand others in all walks of life. Lastly unity for me is the most important thing. I believe that no man can obtain success on their own. It is true and my experiences have taught me that. It is about creating a support system, connecting with people who believe in the right things and working together to make possible what could be impossible alone. The protest that have been going all over the country are great examples of what unity is and it doesn't have to stop there.
I am happy to see that there are people living by these three things and my prayer is that one day things will be better than they are now.
Lastly I would like to say that prayer is also an important tool. If there is anything that I believe strongly in doing along with all of these things is to pray.
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