Black Lives Matter: some context and resources

200 years ago, Africans were getting kidnapped and shipped to the USA to work as slaves. 64 years ago, a long battle for African Americans started, this battle was called the civil rights movement. 57 years ago, Martin Luther King, an activist who felt so strongly about getting equal rights for all through peaceful protesting read a speech he wrote called, “I have a dream”. In this speech he voiced what he wanted our world to become and said that he wanted equality for all, and that had to start with ending discrimination and segregation to give people freedom and justice. He also told the world that he had the dream that one day his four little children would live in a nation where they would not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

Since then, in some ways, our world has come far but not in regard to this. Our world is still full of discrimination and segregation which needs to go, innocent people are sadly still getting manipulated by people in higher power positions who are choosing when someone’s life is ending, and this is heart breaking because some of these people’s last words are so sad that you feel sick to the stomach. This is not right and should not be tolerated by anyone.

Keith Childress, Betty Jones, Kevin Matthews, Michael Noel, Michael Lee Marshall, and George Floyd were all innocent people who had their lives taken from them from police officers because of their colour of their skin. They did nothing wrong but still only one of these police officers has been charged for one of these crimes. It is so saddening that people can’t see people for who they are. Lots of people preach that it is amazing to be unique because it means everyone is different but in their own incredible way, so why are people still tolerating something that leaves them speechless (in a bad way). At the end of the day, you shouldn’t care about someone’s race but you should see someone for who they truly are. BLACK LIVES MATTER!

Here are some resources where you will find information, and advice on how you can help.

Books you can read:

(For younger children) A Is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Vlackman

This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell

Articles you can read:

Why You Need to Stop Saying “All Lives Matter” By Rachel Cargle

How to be a white ally by Stephanie Yeboah (Patreon)

100 Ways White People Can Make Life Less Frustrating For People of Color

TED Talks you can watch: