Menu

I posted something on my social media last week and I also wanted to share it here, in case you didn’t see it.

Just last fall my family and I were vacationing in Lake Tahoe. 

As we were driving to the popular destination areas the beautiful mountains have to offer, my husband muttered the dreaded words, “I think we’re being followed by the police.” 

My heart sank, almost like I was riding the Giant Drop at Six Flags.

We were followed by the police for 15 minutes but it felt like hours. We drove into a deserted beach parking lot and without hesitation he followed. 

I wish I could wrap my arms around my husband and protect him but sadly, this has always been his reality.

My stomach was in knots as we were approaching a dead end, what now? Chuck parked the car and asked me to step out, because if he was the one to get out, there was a chance he might not make it back in. If you think I was a mess, imagine how he was feeling.

As soon as the officer saw me, he quickly turned around and scurried away.

We finally exhaled.

It has been a trying first half of the year for us all and a long few trying weeks for Black people in America. We are upset. We are angry, in fact. We are desperately sad.

We all know that logically and morally every single human life is equal and important. However, the brutal execution and abuse (both physical and mentally) of Black people in numbers, that no other race of people can claim in America, indicates otherwise. And the injustice is happening to Black people daily.

Let’s get into the statistics of it. Did you know:

In 2019, there were 1,099 people killed by the police. Black people were 24% of those killed despite being only 13% of the population. Which means, Black people are more like to be killed by police 3x than white people and 1.3x more likely to be killed while unarmed compared to white people.

To add to that, 99% of killings by police from 2013-2019 have not resulted in officers being charged with a crime.

And this is just one small issue compared to so many others.

This is one of the reason we can’t say “All Lives Matter”. Because all lives can’t matter until Black lives start to matter.

I also want it to be known that there IS no side to equality. Being Black and a person of color isn’t a choice. Being a good human however is.

Solidarity is more important now than ever. And I know that as human beings we have such a remarkable ability to understand and empathize if only we try.

I’ve seen lots of great resource lists, but so many choices can be paralyzing. Here’s a simple list of things you can start implementing today:

Ways you can help within your home:

– Support a Black Owned Business

– Read a book about diversity with your child

– Discuss these talking points with your children

– Speak up when a family member says anything offensive

– Correct misinformation and lies in person and on social media. Your Black friends are so tired

– Check out Sesame Street, they have such a delicate way of teaching our children about diversity in almost every episode (I’ve even learned a lot from watching it as an adult)

Ways you can help within your workplace:

-Reach out to a Black colleague + friend and ask how they’re doing

– Offer to help with any work they may be working on. Again, your Black friends are so tired

-Listen

-Empathize

-If your work place hasn’t taken a stance or been vocal, reach out to your manager or HR. Our voices need to be heard.

If you would like to help financially, please consider donating to:

– https://www.naacp.org/

– https://colorofchange.org/

– https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019

Thank you for being you , and for joining the fight with me because Black Lives Matter!