BLM
For such a long time I looked, but wasn’t really paying attention.
I must admit, before the murder of George Floyd I wasn’t really aware how big of a problem racism still is.
I was living happily in my privileged bubble, not realizing the suffering and injustices POC were still experiencing.
After his murder, I stayed up late watching the news, following protests happening all around the world.
And I started to remember …
I remembered all of the things I had witnessed and ignored. Reactions I had, comments my family, friends or I had made in the past, „jokes“ that were told again and again, looks or behaviors I had, things I had learned, fears and assumptions ….
I didn’t post a black square on my personal Instagram profile like many others did. It felt wrong for me. Not because I didn’t believe in the cause, but because I felt ashamed. Ashamed of my ignorance and prejudice. It all came like a wave, and it made me feel fake.
Here I was, parading my love for animals, trying to live a more sustainable life, doing volunteer work for causes I believed in, yet still having this mentality in the back of my head.
It was ridiculous.
How on earth could I pretend to care for the planet, and not care for a sickness that has been affecting my own kind? One can not speak about empathy and compassion for living creatures without including humans in the process.
I felt sorry for myself, but then it hit me again: This isn’t about me or how it affects me. It is about POC that have been the ones to experience it their entire lives.
Racism is a disease that has been infecting our society for a while, taking lives and infecting our minds.
Why is it that the amount of melanin someone has determines the way a person should be treated?
We humans created this virus and we have the power to eliminate it.
I am determined to do better. For them. For their future. For our future.
Here’s a link where you can find different resources to learn more about racism in our society:
https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/black-lives-matter-resources