I’ll start with this.
There is strength in numbers
I want to go over the formal definition of Ally. As we all know Allies mainly pertained to war in the past.
noun /ˈalī/
a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose.
verb /əˈlī/
combine or unite a resource or commodity with (another) for mutual benefit.
2. side with or support
Why did countries form alliances you ask mainly because few countries were strong enough to politically, militarily or economically to sustain a prolonged war against potential adversaries on its own.
Imma let that sit for a moment. Here’s the thing right… movements, protests, fights, defunding, and change can all be considered acts of war when we really think about it we are a people trying to change a system right? And a long one at that. So, if we are declaring war, specific agenda pending, we have got to stop cancelling people who are trying to talk and be apart of it. I see it everywhere. Someone will ask a genuine question only to be met with sharp tongues that put a bad taste in their mouths. Someone could be saying hey I want to help and someone else will be like YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HELPING STUPID ASS PICK UP A DAMN BOOK AND DO THE WORK YOURSELF WE NOT GUIDING YOU TO HELP!! Someone else (black people included) could say "protesting is not for me but I want the killing of black people to stop" and others are ready to fight and tell them how they should show up as if their desire to help cannot spark the numbers we need. It’s getting to a point where I have heard multiple people of other races say “I’m afraid to say anything but I really want to help… I don’t even know how to say I’m an ally because I don’t have the words and I don’t want to offend.” The last thing we want is to scare people away from joining this movement then we are left without traction.
Ultimately, I don’t give a damn if we don’t think exactly the same about every single aspect protesting, race and politics in this country a long as black people get justice. To try to make everyone think on the exact same wavelength for every aspect of this movement is going to be a waste of time and energy. We need numbers for votes we need numbers for protests, we need numbers
This is not me caping for white feelings or non black POC ignorance this is me wanting us to win so badly that I’m willing to put my pride to the side for the sake of gaining allies and numbers so we can be victorious in the end. In any scenario, majority rules if we shut out and hurt those who can be in our majority leaving them to “not vote at all” (like the last election) we will lose… like the last election.
Understand that there is a difference between people willfully being ignorant and those who are really trying to learn and understand. You can still teach people and tell them about themselves without trying to make them feel like shit in the process. No one and I mean no one, black, white, asian, latino, muslim, indigenous, LGBTQIA, Christian, atheist you name it ever wants to be made to feel like shit. And even if you’re 100% right if you dismiss someone while proving your point they will miss the point and only focus on how you made them feel. And yes black people have been made to feel like shit for centuries now CENTURIES!!! But I’ll be damned if my kids gotta go through this. We have the opportunity to really make a change. We have people all over the world in solidarity with us lets keep as many numbers as we can so we can keep this movement going.
This week I’m going to leave you with some hopefully familiar words from the late great Dr. Maya Angelou,
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
When I’m at work and people ask me very googlable questions I could respond I don’t know are you familiar with google WTF? Or I could say like I usually do, hey I’m unsure about your question I don’t think I have anything in my files have you tried googling it? It’s probably there. I’M SAYING THE SAME THING but one is just not making them feel like shit. I’m not saying we need to sit down with every white person and teach them black history we can still direct them to educational resources just in a kind way.
This week I affirm that amidst everything going on I will be able to show up how I need to for myself and for others.
Peace and Love,
