It is a troubling time in the world today. In the United States in particular, there are specific things that are polarizing this country and are causing people to speak up and speak out about their experiences. Hot topics if you will.
Michael Brown (18 years old, shot and killed in Ferguson, MO, shot 6 times twice in the head by a Police Officer). This happened on August 9, 2014- My Birthday.
Ferguson, has erupted into a "state of war" rioting and looting occurred, which charged an increase of police and media presence. What are supposed to be peaceful marches and protests turn into a scene from a war zone- tear gas, rubber bullets are used to "calm" a crowd, but that type of use essentially ignites more anger and outrage. Yet again, members of the Black community are pulled back into this situation where we are feeling as if our young Black males' lives are not worthy in the eyes of those who are supposed to protect and serve. There is a charged and distorted view regarding a sense of justice in this country. There is a blaming and almost a sentiment by some that an 18 year old boy deserved to die. It's disgusting, it's degrading and it reminds many that at the core of this conversation, some people would still dehumanize a young man.
My take: The story is not new. It's sad, it's heart breaking, it ignites fear for me as a Black woman with the potential to raise young Black men, that I could lose them too soon. Additionally, the back drop of this story is sad and heart breaking. I am tired of having to retell this story and almost defend the anger of members of my community. It hurts to have to explain to someone of an opposite race, why the senseless killing deserves more attention and a change in the heart of many in this country. It sucks to see that at the heart of this a young man was murdered and instead of seeing a fair balance of justice in this, we are still arguing about a whole lot, that no one really has the want, desire or interest in FINALLY discussing and dismantling of the real ill- RACE anxiety within this country.
I'd rather not walk in fear of raising young Black men. I'd rather not cry when I hear that another young Black male was gunned down by the hand of someone who was supposed to "protect and serve." I would rather not have to look into the eyes of my 16 year old nephew or other young Black males in inner cities and see their eyes with this question of "Am I next?" We all have a responsibility to do better, to be better, to expect better of each other and I just pray that we finally begin to listen to each other.
2 Days after Mike Brown's story began to take over the news channels, another story jumped into the spotlight. On August 11, 2014 Robin Williams (Actor & Comedian) committed suicide and "ended" his battle with depression.
His image and comments about his acting legacy spread across timelines, news feeds and every other social media and news outlet possible. For some people on my timeline there was a sense of disturbance with the fact that Robin Williams' story was going to out-shadow the story of Mike Brown. There were some sentiments that he shouldn't be celebrated, because he chose to end his life.
My Take: Until you have walked a mile in another person's shoes you will never know the battles they have to face. Be blessed that you do not suffer in the way others have. Be outraged that someone like Robin Williams wasn't able to find peace enough to not have to end their own life. Be outraged that we do not spend enough time talking about depression or mental illness. We have a history to pen up, shut out individuals who don't express themselves in what we think is normal. We have had mental hospitals, we heavily medicate in the hopes of creating "balance", we don't talk about depression or mental illness as if it is something that almost every person has the potential to fix.
We shouldn't be angry that one story is outweighing another. We should be angry that another life was lost. That another family and set of friends has to grieve the loss of life, because even if it is at your own hands that loss of life is still very real and very hard on those who are left behind.
His story is what will make me accept the challenge
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge This challenge was started to raise awareness for ALS- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig Disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that effects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. It causes degeneration in motor skills and is extremely debilitating. It's a genetic disease that is hard to watch someone you love go through it, and equally just as hard to go through it as well. Right now there isn't a cure. Now I am not sure how this challenge got started. But it took individuals to see that there was a need for them to see something changed about an issue they were passionate about.
Then this thing spread, where people were being challenged to dump buckets of Ice Cold water on themselves and challenge the next group of people.
There are two sides to this, one where individuals are actually standing up and raising awareness to the disease, not only by accepting the challenge AND also making donations to the ALS Foundation or other organizations that are searching for a cure.
But then there is the other side of it where people say I'm doing this Ice Bucket Challenge OR I am donating money to ALS.
My Take: I take issue with the "OR," the purpose of this challenge isn't to just be that person who is dumping ice and water on your head, but to also raise awareness for something. My issue with social movements as of late, is that they fall short of significant action (at least in my opinion) I am a Social Media junkie, I use it to my advantage, heck I am writing a blog about my thoughts and opinions on some of the biggest issues that are inciting so much talk and traffic. But I do more than just blog, I challenge myself to learn more, I challenge others to have the conversations, to push ourselves out of our boundaries. It's not about me being on a soapbox, so when you say "OR" isn't the point a) to raise awareness and b) to also help find a cure, which requires resources and more people making donations.
My other issue in general with this challenge- we United States residents, Americans- are VERY privileged to even be able to consider this type of challenge. We are privileged to have water to LITERALLY WASTE! While doing this less than 1 minute video plug when there are countries, and people who have to walk miles just to get a days worth of water and we have no problem just dumping it. In my mind not only should we be doing a challenge to support ALS, but we should also then pay an additional amount of money to support water resources in countries that are lacking. California- gotta love my former home, is fining individuals who are posting videos about them participating in this Ice Bucket Challenge. And maybe unlike the person who is getting fined, I am proud of California for taking this stand. California is currently in one of it's worst droughts that have destroyed many crops and there is a clear correlation in recent weeks to continued loss of water due to the ice bucket challenge.
This example above is probably most reflective of Social Justice and advocacy, in an attempt to find some balance, you recognize that it isn't always going to be fair, but you also have to be mindful of the other negative impacts that can occur as well.
So what does it all mean- Mike Brown, Robin Williams, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? ( I haven't even mentioned what is happening over seas) For me it means that I have faith. We live in a world that issues matter, while they might be conflicting issues, the reality is social justice is a tangled web of intersections. No issue should be better than the other. And what I have seen at least in these last few weeks with these few stories that I have highlighted is that people care enough to 1 be outraged and 2 stand up and say something about it.
My final thought prayer. I pray that we see an end to this need of being outraged. I pray that we get it together to realize that we don't have to live in a world with these tensions. Yes it doesn't mean that it has to be pain free, but I believe in a God who cares, who loves the world, who wants more for us than what we are living now. I pray that I don't have to walk in fear that my future sons need to be under a constant state of being mindful of their presence in certain spaces. I pray that not another life has to be lost because they are unable to live in the world and are constantly facing this turmoil and imbalance in their spirit. I pray that we find a cure for diseases, that not another family like Anthony's has to go through generations of pain.
It's our time to be outraged, but it's also our time to stand up...
