Our world is in such an awful place right now. Not only is there a global pandemic going on, but once again, a POC's life has been wrongfully taken by a white police officer.

On May 25th George Floyd was murdered by the Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds while Floyd pleaded for his life, begging the officer, and telling him "I can't breathe." Despite that however, Chauvin continued kneeling on his neck, eventually killing Floyd.

George Floyd's life was taken wrongfully. Remember his name. George Floyd was murdered by Derek Chauvin because of his skin color.

Because of this, America is outraged (as they should be). People are protesting and rioting for justice and equality, not only for George Floyd, but for every POC whose life has been wrongfully taken by a white officer, or who has been treated differently because of their skin color.

I am a white woman. I have never had to worry about being treated differently because of my skin color. I have never been afraid of what an officer might do to me because of my skin color. If anything, my skin color has made life easier for me. And that is 100% what white privilege is.

White privilege is defined as "inherent advantages possessed by a white person on the basis of their race in a society characterized by racial inequality and injustice." I have white privilege, and I cannot deny that. My life has been a lot easier because of my skin color. And every single white person not only needs to recognize that, but needs to use that privilege to speak up for the injustice and inequality going on in our country, and the systematic racism that is killing POC.

But some people apparently have an issue with that. Not some people. Let me be more specific- white racists. White racists have a problem with you using your voice to speak up for what's right. These people refuse to accept the part they play and refuse to accept the FACT that they have white privilege. And they REFUSE to accept that POC are not the problem- the problem is racism, inequality and injustice. But they don't want to think about that. Instead, they want to focus on property damage, "All Lives Matter," "white privilege isn't real" and genuinely any other thing they can think of to not deal with the fact that POC are dying at the hands of white officers.

So let's break that down. Piece by piece. Firstly- the fact that they are worried about property damage. Listen closely. If you care more about property damage then the senseless murder of POC, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. Is a Target really more important than George Floyd's life? Could you honestly look Georgy Floyd's family in the face and tell them that? No. You couldn't. Because it's not true. If you truly believe that then listen very closely. YOU. ARE. APART. OF. THE. PROBLEM.

"Rioting is the language of the unheard". And you, as a white person, have no right (0 at all) to tell a POC how they are to deal with the injustice that has been placed upon them. Next caller.

Next, "All Lives Matter?" Of course. Yes, all lives do matter. But is your life under attack because of the color of your skin? Think of it this way. Imagine a child has just died, and a mournful mother is giving a eulogy for them at their funeral. They're saying how loved their child was and how special their child was. Then all of a sudden, someone grabs the microphone from her to shout "Well ALL children are special!" Please understand that. Nobody is saying your child isn't special, but this child has just died. So the focus needs to be on them. The same way nobody is saying that your white life doesn't matter. But right now in America, black lives are still being taken by white officers for no reason. So the focus, NEEDS to be on them. People NEED to understand that black lives DO matter. Not that they matter more, but they matter JUST as much. And that is what the Black Lives Matter movement is all about. It's not about superiority, it's about equality. Next.

And to every single person who truly doesn't believe white privilege is real? Please redirect your attention to the predominantly white protests that went on not too long ago protesting the stay at home order. Were individuals at THOSE protests being teargassed? Shot at? Spat on? Of course not. And you want to know why? Because they were white. Those white protesters who showed up with literal ASSAULT RIFLES that were protesting staying at home to stop the spread of a deadly virus, were treated better than unarmed POC protesting the murder of an innocent black man. Please let that sink in.

And that is just one example. White privilege is so intertwined to our society that most people don't even realize it. Assuming you're a white individual reading this, please think about this. Did you ever have a problem finding someone who looked like you in tv shows when you were little? What about superheroes? Disney Princesses? Was there ever a doubt in your mind that you could walk into a store and find a doll or action figure that looked like you? No. But if you're someone of color, that wasn't the case. And that, is just one more example of white privilege. And there are so, so many more that go way beyond childhood.

Please understand. Please educate yourself. Please use your voice to speak up about the systematic racism in our nation. It is not okay and we are done with it. We cannot go on like this.

And to young people everywhere: Keep. Fighting. Please. We are the generation that is going to change America. We are done with the hate, the racism, and the injustice that has been going on for far, far too long. Use your voice, spread the word, sign petitions, donate if you can, and protest. Do everything you can. Please. We can do this.

Here are some links to petitions you can sign, and organizations you can donate to.

DONATE:

Therapy Fund for Black Women and Girls

https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/NzU4MzM=

Kids Off The Block

https://kidsofftheblock.us/about/

Reclaim The Block

https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2

Black Lives Matter

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019

Know Your Rights Camp

https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com

NAACP Empowerment Programs

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/naacp-ep-2020

Homeless Black Trans Fund

https://www.gofundme.com/f/homeless-black-trans-women-fund?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

Small Businesses on Lake Street (Small Businesses in Minneapolis(

https://www.gofundme.com/f/small-businesses-on-lake-street?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

PETITION

Justice for George Floyd

https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd

Justice for Ahmaud

https://www.runwithmaud.com/#petition

Justice for Breonna Taylor

https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor

#DefundThePolice

https://blacklivesmatter.com/defundthepolice/

We Are Done Dying

https://www.naacp.org/campaigns/we-are-done-dying/

Hands Up Act

https://www.change.org/p/us-senate-hands-up-act

Rasie the Degree

https://www.change.org/p/minneapolis-district-attorney-raise-the-degree?recruiter=1098599238&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_abi&recruited_by_id=960efe90-a206-11ea-8907-8fc7af712ec3

Justice for Tony McDade

https://secure.everyaction.com/BAMRHpdpAUS8Rle7I00UrA2