Like many of you, I watched the video of George Floyd with horror and sadness, adding it to my mind’s repository of past clips involving the killings of Philando Castile, Eric Garner, and many more.
I also saw the entire spectrum of reactions in the ensuing weeks, from the protests to the press conferences to the looting to the grieving. At many points, I felt powerless to enact meaningful, sustained change to the situation. I didn’t consider myself experienced or knowledgeable enough. I wasn’t sure what to say, if anything at all.
As the initial tidal wave has come down just a bit, we’ve all had some more time to read, reflect, and listen. I’ve come to the realization that if we’re committing to lasting racial justice, it may involve small, sustained efforts over the long haul.
While I don’t have the power to magically will away these injustices, I can at the very least work within my own sphere of influence, starting with myself.
Here are the ways I’m committing to support racial justice for the long haul. It might not be everything. It might not be what others prioritize. But that’s okay. I think everyone is able to contribute in their own ways. Perhaps it’s starting small and expanding on actions as I learn more.
I’ll Continue to Learn
One of the most important starting points for me personally is to get educated. While many of us grew up learning the basics of racism, I haven’t spent much additional time digging deeper and learning more. I recently joined a reading group for the well-regarded book White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. I think it could potentially be a good intro to the more subtle ways racism manifests in society today.
Another area I could get more educated on involves the conversations for change coming out of the latest tragedies. For example, learning more on what exactly “defunding the police” means (hint: it’s not the same as abolishing the police).
As I learn more, I can continue to build on my knowledge with more books and articles as well as a deeper understanding of issues related to race and society. And while I may not agree 100% with every piece out there, I’m approaching this with an open mind of just trying to educate myself.
I’ll Continue to Donate
In the wake of the initial uproar, I decided to financially support various groups involved with racial justice, including bail funds for protestors. I don’t condone looting, and I firmly believe the majority of protestors were peaceful and exercising their guaranteed rights to free speech.
As the movement continues, I plan to shift to monthly donations for groups promoting racial justice and education. Every quarter, I’ll evaluate and potentially pick a different group to donate to. This way, I can continue to stay engaged and also contribute to community-focused organizations.
I’ll be starting my recurring donations to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp, which is focused on helping underserved Black and Brown communities through education. Some other organizations I’m looking into and considering include Black Girls Code and City of Dreams – both local SF nonprofits.
I’ll Continue to Vote
I’m a huge proponent of exercising our rights to vote. I think this is important now more than ever, and with incoming legislation for reforms, I’m set on getting educated and then getting out to vote.
While individuals have less of an impact for national elections (especially if they don’t live in a swing state), individuals can surprisingly have a ton of impact at local elections. There have been SF elections where ballot measures barely passed/didn’t pass or candidates narrowly won/lost.
The added benefit of continuing to stay active with voting is that I’ll also have a say in many other important issues that affect the future of our neighborhoods and cities. And if folks stayed engaged with local elections around the country, then there’s definitely vast potential for meaningful and widespread change.
Closing Thoughts
Nearly 75% of Americans believe the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer is a sign of an underlying racial injustice problem. While there’s no one right way to the solution, I’m committed to lasting change by first acknowledging that I can do better. I’ll be working on staying educated and engaged in the coming months and hopefully the coming years.
