Creating Peace For Yourself & Others During This Time of Chaos & Injustice
- Sofia Isabella Flores
- Jun 3, 2020
- 5 min read
First and foremost, I understand my place. I understand that I am privileged. I understand that I will never be able to understand the fears and oppression that the black community faces daily. My only goal in this post is to extend my support and knowledge to all individuals seeking to better themselves and others during this time. -
This year has been eye opening and unbelievably different than any other.
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The world has been shaken and commanded to re-evaluate.
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I cannot comprehend why such tragedies have been given the opportunity to surface.
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I cannot believe the reality of our harsh contemporary existence.
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I feel powerless yet enraged when witnessing the horrors that have been shown the light of day. -
It is the responsibility, as inhabitants of this country, to seek change and stand by our colored citizens.
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Non-black citizens, we must act. We must create peace. We must support this movement.
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The time to use our voices, powers, platforms, and hearts is now. -
1) Do Your Research: Know The Cause. Know Your Stance. Listen To Those Within The Community. Educate Yourself.
Ignorance, complacency, and silence are devastating. This is far beyond the point of well wishes and forgetfulness.
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It is our duty to fight this battle alongside those who have been fighting it for decades.
Our generation is fortunate to have an abundance of knowledge at our fingertips.
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Netflix, Google, YouTube, Instagram, they can all be used to familiarize ourselves with the long standing troubles that have plagued the black community.
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Listen to and read the posts overpowering your social media feeds.
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Watch the videos that have been released of police brutality, protests, political commentary, and news segments. -
Watch the films, documentaries, and series, that depict the struggles of black individuals.
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FILMS:
“12 Years A Slave”
“The Butler”
“Mudbound”
“Moonlight”
“Dear White People”
“42”
“Get Out”
“Fences”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“Selma”
“The Hate U Give”
“Detroit”
“BlacKkKlansmen”
“Green Book”
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SERIES:
“When They See Us“ “Seven Seconds“
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DOCUMENTARIES:
“The 13th”
“I Am Not Your Negro”
“Whose Streets“
“What Happened, Miss Simone?”
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Watch your local news stations for specials, live coverage, and discussions with qualified black political figures and other powerful colored voices.
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STATIONS WITH BLM COVERAGE:
CNN - *Democratic
NBC
KTLA
ABC
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Use your social media for insight!
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Pay attention to the movements, posts, pictures, and videos that are circling. -
POPULAR HASHTAGS TO LOOK OUT FOR & USE:
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2) Support: Be The Change. Uplift Black Voices.
We must act. -
Attend the peaceful protests in your area.
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Reserach and reach out to your region; discover events that are being planned.
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Being cautious, join your community members, and raise your voices loud.
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Speak up.
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Speak out.
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Make powerful, moving signs.
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Demonstrate peaceful resistance.
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Make your local leaders and others aware of your area’s intolerance of racism.
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Stand with honor. Do not allow the taunts of the ignorant to faze you. -
Those who cannot recognize the good in what you are doing do not deserve a reaction.
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If you do not feel adequate to use your own voice, or you cannot attend a protest/demonstration, uplift the stories of colored peoples.
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Repost.
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Use hashtags.
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Use your Instagram story.
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Tweet.
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Retweet.
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Stream.
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Upload.
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Sign petitions.
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Donate.
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Support Bail Funds
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Support black-owned businesses
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Call your city & state leaders
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You are not powerless.
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ONLINE PETITIONS & FUNDINGS:
Black Visions Collective
Reclaim The Block
North Star Health Collective
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INFORMATIVE & BLM INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS:
@ashnicolewilliams
@iverlei
@ethelsclub
@mimconnect
@theccnyc
@blmlosangeles
@colorofchange
@naacp
@civilrightsorg
@unitedwedream
@showingupforracialinjustice
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I also post as much information and as many various resources as I can on my Instagram: @sofiaisabellaflores_
However, I am not the most qualified and highly recommend the accounts listed above. -
3) Start The Conversation: Be Honest & Open With Your Friends & Family.
While many of us have been at home with family for the past few months, the topic of racism and its prevalence in your own lives may not have been discussed. -
If not, you must begin to have this dialogue now. -
Reflect upon yourself, your beliefs, and your actions.
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What is my definition of racism?
What examples of racism can I think of? Have I ever been racist?
What assumptions have I made about people of color?
Do I continue to make these assumptions?
Have I ever witnessed racism?
Am I an ally? Am I willing and able to make sacrifices in order to support the black community? Have I ever supported the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement in the past?
Do I acknowledge my own privilege?
What advantages have I received as a result of my privilege?
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Once we have identified thought patterns and tendencies in our own minds, we can begin to change them for the better. -
We must also discover these aspects in those we surround ourselves with. -
Encourage your family members and friends to review the questions above.
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Discuss the answers that arise.
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Challenge one another to begin thinking positively.
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Challenge one another to break down the stigmas, stereotypes, and barriers. -
The past cannot be erased nor rectified; the future, however, can be made brighter by the actions of today.
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This world is ours. But it is not a right nor a gift. -
Our responsibility is to not only preserve it for future generations, but to improve it. -
Make fewer hardships for the children of tomorrow by righting the wrongs done by all people of today.
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Never stop fighting for good. -
My Message to the Black Community:
Our country has endured many tribulations.
But it is far from perfect.
This land was built not only upon hope, freedom, and perseverance, but it was built by the hands of those whom were not even considered its people.
Immigrants, slaves, persecuted, oppressed, and downtrodden individuals built the very foundations that you and I stand on today.
I am ignorant, because I know not the hardships your community faces on the daily.
I am privileged because of the skin that bears my body.
I am disgusted, because the malicious, arbitrary beliefs that once plagued our lands have only festered and continued to cause mass devastation.
When I was younger, I believed that racism no longer existed. I believed that it remained in the past. A past with segregation, lynchings, and unimaginable violence.
As I have grown older and more socially and societally active, I have become more and more aware of the long standing hatred and oppression of the colored community.
It lingers like smoke in the air.
Light and invisible at times;
But dark, suffocating, and murderous within a mere blink of the eye.
My black friends, family, school mates, acquaintances, neighbors, and fellow U.S.A. citizens, I love you. I will never know your pain, but I can assure you that I will not stand for it to continue. I ask that you forgive me for my ignorance and inherent privilege.
My heart is aligned with yours.
My soul hopes to bear part of your burdens.
And I will give everything in me to fight for you and with you.
In light & peace,
Sofia F.
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