A NOD TO WHITE PEOPLE!

To the ones who are ACTIVELY anti-racist,

THANK YOU for showing up, for putting your career on the line, for risking potential opportunities, for taking on the opposition of your family, for losing friends, for accepting the loss of love, for standing up in the face of so much hate in support of Black and Brown people. For not backing down, for not giving up, for committing to the cause, for staying by our side, for every post shared to highlight (systemic and institutionalised) racism and every other sickening treatment on those targeted just because they are Black and/or Brown. 

For choosing to get educated, for wanting to help however you can, for openly using your privilege for good and to better the lives of Black and Brown people. For publicly being in support of (ALL) BLACK LIVES MATTER... 

A nod to the white people who not only get it but have consistently demonstrated that they will continue to be forever about it - THANK YOU!

Black and Brown people are likely to always feel the negative impact of what has been done to them historically and what they are experiencing today (as well as anything that may be ahead of them in the form of racism, etc.). However, I know most (if not all of us) realise that not every white person is racist. We see those of you who are firmly in our corner, speaking on our behalf and boldly making moves, irrespective of any repercussions, in a bid to help us put an end to the harsh treatment we have faced at the hands of the oppressors for centuries. 

Gratitude is a must and so, with this post, I am extending a hearty THANKS to each white and non-black/brown person doing their part and then some! 🖤

God bless,
Charley - @charleyjaiuk x

All details and information correct and up to date at the time of publishing.

BLACK AND PROUD!

No disclaimer because I don’t gi a rarse who may or may not be offended. My truth, in this post, is born from pain. The pain I am entitled to feel, to sometimes wallow in and to share as and when I see it is necessary. Necessary to heal, necessary to help others heal. Heal so I do not turn into my oppressors, the oppressors still oppressing in the face of the current times, oppressors who do not realise their time is about to be up, the oppressors of Black and Brown people. People with heart, soul, ongoing strength, the loudest courage, deep wisdom, and an awakened emotionally charged fire no amount of 'comfort' can put out.

This chapter of the fight, BLACK LIVES MATTER, is The One that will not end until Black and Brown people see the change we have needed to see since 1619! We are finally using our voices in a bold and unapologetically passionate way (no holding back, just like our ancestors) to speak on every injustice and we will keep speaking, shouting and pushing for our voices to be heard until we get results!

Jim Crow's segregation laws had the objective of denying persons free from slavery any equal rights or access to the political system. Those laws have been abolished, it is now 2020, yet there remains among us too many who are religiously ignorant. They're about to get the most shocking wake up call of their lives because Black and Brown people are NOT having it anymore. The unlawful killings of Black and Brown people will eventually STOP!!

The brutal lynching of George Floyd, like a shockingly disgraceful long list of Black and Brown people before and since him, stirred up the world of emotions in me. His unlawful murder got me in my throat and in the pit of my stomach. The anger was instant and has not left an ounce of my being. But, do you know what? I don’t want it to. I need it to stay. I need to stay hurt, vexed, for the fire in my belly to continue to roar, for my head to continue thinking of ways I can contribute towards the change we need and for my heart to remember that love is why we are here and love is why we matter. Love is why we fight!

To my Black and Brown people – we feel, think, digest, process and respond differently, but, we ARE and always will be one race; one community. We are affected, but we are not broken. We may be physically distant but, we can be socially connected. Some of us will protest offline and some of us will make noise online. However we choose to invest, the important thing is that we do (respectfully and peacefully) because without a united stance we may never have the oppressors recognise that our lives matter! Don’t come together just for the time. Come together and stay together indefinitely because each of our lives depends on our unity. We need to continuously feel proud of our heritage, spurred on by the great achievements of our ancestors, push forward with the work we are doing today and believe that, by the grace of God, concrete changes will follow. We need to continue the fight for as long as it takes. Together!

White racist people, read this slowly – Black and Brown people are not here to serve you in any sort of way and we were not birthed to be hunted for sport either! Your sudden realisations that you have been or are ignorant is not something we can support you with but, there, there now... Google is readily available to everybody! Get educated, elevate your consciousness, unlearn the conditioned thinking and behaviour that has caused you to despise Black and Brown people! Change is hot on the heels of everyone. Don’t resist the revolution, get with the programme!!

To White people who are genuinely in support of Black and Brown Lives - the most important things you can do to support us is to use your privilege to STAND IN THE WAY OF BRUTALITY and to open the doors to platforms where we can and will be heard, responsibly and respectfully.

I am proud of my fellow Black and Brown people. Proud of the activism efforts of so many. Proud of the conversations we are finally showing up for. Proud of the honesty we are sharing. Proud of the movement - BLACK LIVES MATTER TOO! BLACK LIVES WILL ALWAYS MATTER! 

ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!!

AUDIO VERSION of this post can be listened to here: 

https://charleyjaiuk.podbean.com/e/black-proud-charley-jai/

Written by Charley Jai - @charleyjaiuk

All details and information correct and up to date at the time of publishing.