To the black lives of the Black Lives Matter movement,
I will never truly understand what it means to be black in America today, simply because I am not black. I want to let you know I stand with you, though, against the injustice and prejudice you face everyday. I understand how crucial your movement is. As a person of color, my people are often also racially profiled, they are also targets of ignorance and hatred and I sympathize with you wholeheartedly. As a PoC I know the fear of existing in a society that is constantly rejecting you and blames you for existing in a system rooted in institutionalized racism. As a PoC, I want to thank you for the Black Lives Matter movement and for speaking loudly against injustice even though many voices have tried to silence you. The BLM movement has called on society to change a flawed system. As a non-black ally of the movement, I grieve with you. I am angered at society's request that you mourn the loss of your brothers and sisters "respectfully." I am just as angered when I hear "well he should have..." or "if she had just obeyed..." because it demands people of color to be free but only in the way white people feel comfortable.
The color of your skin for centuries has deemed the worth of thousands of lives. It directly affects our socialization, our self esteem, our perception of the world. Knowing this all too well as 'colorism' exists within every culture. The Black Lives Matter movement has prompted a very important conversation, one that has been brushed aside for too long. Why does the color of my skin affect the way I live? The truth is that for years white people have dominated society with a superiority complex. Working hard to ensure that people of color are existing within the confines of their control, depleting their chances of socioeconomic growth and mocking their inability for upward mobility. It is time we acknowledge that America is racist. It is toxic and dangerous and everyday is a challenge to exist as a person of color. The Black Lives Matter movement, obviously, must be black-led, as they are the only people who can truly explain the experience as a black person in America. Most people have a misconception that the Black Lives Matter movement must be black-supported or exclusively black, but the truth is that a movement as powerful and as important as this needs the support of every honest person.The point of being an ally is to understand the perspective of someone else, and to vocalize their fight in platforms they may not necessarily have access to.
To the parents of PoC who are not black,
You may not have grown up around black people and you may not understand what this movement is about, but I have. They are my friends, my classmates, my teachers, my doctors. Their parents value their lives as much as you value mine, they have hopes and dreams the same way you do for me. I am asking you, as your child, and as a first generation child, to support me in supporting the BLM movement. They have the right to dream, work, and aspire the same way we do. We face prejudice too, and I know it might be easier to deal with issues within our culture and turn a deaf ear to the voices of our black community members, but because we know the struggle of being victims of prejudice we should be more willing to lend a helping hand.
To the black lives of the #BlackLivesMatter movement,
You are so much more than the color of your skin, but remember that the color of your skin makes you wonderful, powerful, and contains the journey of thousands before you coursing through your veins. You should never let anyone erase your identity by saying "all lives matter" or that they "don't see race," because race is seen. It determines almost every single factor in your life. It is a part of your history, your identity, your ever growing story. Never quell your voice in fear that you do not deserve to exist. Your color is beautiful. Your black is beautiful and my brown supports you. The color of our skin may cause us to experience the world differently, but it does not have to marginalize us.
You are not alone as you fight the good fight. Your PoC allies stand firmly with you.
