Observe and report

Dear Readers:
Yes, this is another topical post (read: rant) about what is happening in America. The country is burning (literally and figuratively). Sorry, not sorry. A story about kayaking with the family can wait.
Beth

Police cruisers drove into a crown of people in Brooklyn. Yes, this actually happened.

Dear White People:

I’ve been fighting with some of you all week. I refuse to scroll past your inane posts and try to make nice. You can unfriend me, unfollow me, ignore me — whatever you have to do to be safe in your echo chamber. But I am not going to resist calling you out if you post something ignorant.

You say: What happened to George Floyd was wrong, but the looting and property damage has to stop.
I hear: Destroying property is worse than murder.
I respond: Reverse that sentence. Say instead, “Looting and property damage is wrong, but police brutality and murder have to stop.”

You say: People getting arrested at protests deserve it. They must have done something wrong.
I hear: I’m trying to find a reason to believe our institutions aren’t broken.
I respond: You have to face it: They are, in fact, broken. Police are reacting violently to police protests ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE. Let that sink in. This is what happened to someone I know personally during a peaceful protest. By the way, the First Amendment guarantees the right to peaceable assembly.

You say: People who comply with police don’t get in trouble.
I hear: La la la la la — I’m not listening.
I respond: Even if/when people comply, they still get murdered. Also, let’s pretend for argument’s sake that someone HAS done something wrong — like pay with a counterfeit bill. Does DEATH fit that crime? (The right answer is “no,” you mongrels.)

You say: The mainstream media isn’t trustworthy.
I hear: I’m desperate to find excuses not to face the truth that Trump’s America is a disaster.
I respond: You’re wrong, as I explained in my last post. Listen to me. I know my stuff.

You say: All lives matter.
I hear: I don’t know why we should focus on black people when we are all equal.
I respond: We’re clearly not equal. White privilege exists. Start from the 1600s and go from there. If you need something bite-sized, read up on redlining.

You say: I haven’t experienced “white privilege.” I’ve worked hard for everything I have.
I hear: I don’t want to believe that I have it better by virtue of my skin color.
I respond: It’s not about hard work. It’s about starting in a different place by virtue of skin color. No, you shouldn’t be embarrassed to be white, but you should understand the concept of systemic racism and work to make changes. Read this. Watch this:

I hope this helps. We have to work together to make America great again, and I guarantee it’s not Trump’s way.

Love,
Beth

Courtesy of Creative Nonfiction, here are some action items:

LEARN

• A timeline of events that led us here (via The Root)
• The 1619 Project (via New York Times Magazine) 
• Read up on specific issues (via blacklivesmatter.carrd.co)
• Anti-racism resources (Google Doc)
• Anti-racist books for kids and their caretakers (via White Whale Bookstore)
• A nonfiction anti-racist reading list(via Publishers Weekly) 
• Ibram X. Kendi’s anti-racist reading list (via New York Times)
• Black Pittsburgh writers (via Pittsburgh City Paper)
• Films by black filmmakers (via Criterion Collection)
• Articles, books, podcasts, teacher resources & more (Google Doc)

ACT

• Protesting? Know your rights (via ACLU)
• Planning to protest? Stay safe. (via Vice)
• Filming police? Stay safe. (via WITNESS.org) 
• 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice (via Medium)
• Commit to Justice in June (Google Doc) 
• 20 actions white people and non-black POCs can take to show up for black people right now (via Medium)
• Contact your representatives (via My Reps)
• *** Vote ***

SUPPORT

• Black-owned bookstores (via Publishers Weekly)
• Another list of black-owned bookstores (via Lit Hub)
• Black Lives Matter (Donations)
• Movement for Black Lives(Donations)
• Bail Funds (Donations)
• Other suggestions (Donations)
• Even more suggestions (via The Cut) 

FOLLOW 

• Black Lives Matter  |  @Blklivesmatter
• ACLU  |  @ACLU
• NAACP  |  @NAACP
• Legal Defense Fund  |  @NAACP_LDF
• Color of Change  |  @ColorOfChange
• Equal Justice Initiative  |  @eji_org