These women deserve justice.

I’m not that great with short captions and descriptions on serious topics and so my blog is often is my place to get further into my thoughts or views. It’s cathartic to just write and not be concerned about likes or comments. My blog here is more akin to a journal entry and a quiet safe space for me.  This week in general on social media trying to not get stressed and overwhelmed myself by the flood of posts since the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and with Breonna Taylor’s murder getting more deserved attention has been a lot needless to say for all of us in this country. Personally it’s added even more intensity having a protests turn into riots in my area, looting and vandalism, reading tweets on how they are targeting what they perceive to be all affluent white areas – ‘let’s burn it down’ as I read and think ok what’s my plan when there streets were blocked off,  emergency alerts on curfews each day throughout the day these past few days, followed by a mini earthquake – my nerves have been frayed. Change is never pretty or easy. To a degree since the pandemic began I’ve felt a need to take a step back in many ways and appreciate not being on as frequently, trying to listen to music, read a book clear my brain from overload. Reading a particular quote meme the other day on Instagram resonated a good one to share prompting these additional thoughts that some may be feeling or experiencing as well. My song ‘The Healing’ remains on repeat – take the time.

In a conversation with someone very close to me who does very little social media they conveyed the frustration of this underlying pressure to be public and visible, brought on by co-workers on what people are doing right or not doing now for social advocacy. What are you doing? It’s like if your feed is not all protests and memes you must have apathy which is not the case. We agreed that not all of us are good at online activism, especially if you don’t do social media much anyway. My advice was it’s always best to be authentic and most of all what we do offline is what really matters and can be just as if not more impactful. This is not a contest. A lot of corporations and people are being called out for being disingenuous in a rush to ‘say something.’ I even cringed at the music industry proclaiming that the gatekeepers wanted a ‘the show must pause’ on Blackout Tuesday..the same gatekeepers that make sure black artists are paid less, shut out, rarely given positions beyond the ‘urban departments’ and have totally obliterated R&B music from the mainstream airwaves.

There are experts at advocacy and politics of course beyond posting out of emotion. We should applaud these brave and inspired people who do it for a living, it’s a life purpose. Fighting for police reform (defunding the police, holding them accountable for their brutality, racism and not dealing with bad repeat offending cops, Black Lives Matter movement, Black Trans, LGBT rights, homelessness, education a full time job for many. For an awakened portion of society at this important at this pivotal time while cell phones capture the ugliness that exists time after time we are constant virtual witnesses to so much hatred and racism. Now we do have broadened to mass attention and support worldwide as everyone can now see what black people have been experiencing for so long, marching, protesting for change, other countries deal with racism, poverty and so on as well so the world becomes smaller in it’s fatigue of injustice and an imbalance of financial and class equality mixed in. It’s important to say not all black people are not homogenous or monolith in how we do things or think to other blacks and also to non blacks. Stop with the blackness policing, something I’ve experienced as an artist my entire career. Everyone’s feed is full of outrage for one reason or another and it can get a bit overwhelming while understanding absolute need for all of it. I’ve personally been taking more social media breaks, it can’t be healthy to be consumed by the intensity of consistent bad news and violent images all day – day in and day out.

Yes it’s indeed powerful that whites, Asians, Latinos are joining the movement because blacks have been putting the time in for years – this new force will begin to make the change happen. In the midst of all of this there’s still a pandemic, people aren’t working – including artists like myself and you want to find some things to bring you joy each day without feeling guilty that you don’t want full days of anger, frustration, sadness and so on.

The positive is that with so much diversity and especially young people who will be the ultimate agents of change.I’m of the the don’t just post about it be about it mindset. This is not a competition of who can post the most or protest in the streets the most. There are many ways to help bring about and be a part of change, it’s about finding balance and what works for each individual in doing what’s right and just.

This is what prompted this blog, I added to it..

some are posting on social media

some are protesting in the streets

some are donating silently to organizations that fight for justice and equality year-round

some are educating themselves

some are signing petitions (change.org, colorofchange, blacklivesmatter..)

some are having tough conversations with friends, family and co-workers

a revolution has many lanes be kind to yourself and to others who are traveling in the same direction

just keep your foot on the gas

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I’d like to add this too posted by a friend of mine on IG based on a reaction often given to “Black Lives Matter”

Another thing I’ve seen..the comment “why don’t black people protest black on black crime?” Crime as a whole is always an issue but when trying to use that, it’s as if it’s a justification or code to not be outraged by  police officers who are hired as professionals to serve and protect not abuse their power and not consistently target black people while hiding behind the power of their badge – simple.

Here are resources if you are so inclined to be involved and choosing to not take it to the streets – this is an ongoing process for systemic change that will have to endure and take sustained energy beyond this moment in this country and history.

You can google the links and certainly many I don’t know about..I’m new at a lot of this myself and don’t profess to be an expert by any stretch.

Sign Petitions at Change.Org for Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Ahmard Arbery, Sandra Bland, Alejandro, Tete Gulley, Marshae Jones, Antonio Domingos Viola (shot and killed for not wearing a mask) T and so many more that I’m still learning about.

Minnesota Freedom Fund

Reclaim The Block

National Bail Out

Black Lives Matter

Bail Project

Campaign Zero

National Bail Fund Network

The Innocent Project

Run With Maud

Justice For Breonna

Black Lives Matter Los Angeles

Alliance of Californians For Community Alliance

Numbers to Call or Text:

Text Justice to 66-8336

Text Enough to 55-165

Black Trans Protestors Emergency Fund

Black Trans Collective

For The Gworls

The Okra Project

What to know if you’re protesting, know your rights and have a plan; Tips

Leave a message for Louisville Mayor and demand Justice, Independent Internal Investigation for Breonna Taylor 502 574 2003 the 26 year old EMT frontline worker shot 8 times in her own home in the wee hours of the morning in her own bed as police used a no knock warrant at the wrong house. No arrests or charges have been filed..this is not a first – look up 7 year old Aiyana Jones in Detroit.

Vote in your local elections get these old guard racists out and of course in the upcoming national election systematic racism must come to an end.

It’s not enough say say “I’m not racist” – your actions must show that you are “anti-racist” that’s how the change will continue to happen long after this the biggest civil rights movement in history. 50 states, 18 countries of all races who have come out in protest.