There’s a clip floating around of George Floyd’s daughter, Gianna exclaiming that her daddy changed the world and she’s correct. I don’t know what it was about his murder that sparked a fire in so many people to realize that Black lives do indeed matter, but it did. Within a span of a week and a half there were protests in all 50 states as well as almost 20 countries. People took to the streets in droves for marches, and while there were some instances of looting done by people pretending to be allies of the movement, most of the protests have been peaceful.
There were online campaigns, statements issued by so many major companies and institutions, and even the NFL commissioner spoke out on a topic that he’d bashed Black players for in the past about speaking out on. Demetria Lucas said something about this being weird in one of her most recent posts, and she’s right. For so long this has been fought by just Black people and a few allies, but now it seems like the world is waking up and seeing that racism is wrong overnight.
Now there are more ways to protest than just marching. Not everyone has it in them to Huey P. Newton, Malcolm X, or even Martin Luther King, Jr. Maybe you’re more of a Thurgood Marshall or Whitney M. Young type. That’s fine! You can still get your message across without taking to the streets, and here are a few ways you can do that:
Register to vote and show up to vote. I’m not sure about every state, but the window to register to vote this year for Texas is closing fast. I cannot encourage you enough to make sure that you are registered to vote at your current address. Learn about candidates and their stances on policies, and when election days (yes, plural) come, go out and vote! That’s one of the quickest ways to enact change, especially locally.
Donate money to causes. Put your money where your mouth is; every little bit helps.
Read and learn about the history of racism in the US. It’s not an easy subject or the most comfortable, but it’s a topic everyone should know about. We’re taught about the Holocaust and internment camps in school, even the Trail of Tears, but racism has been glossed over. Black people have had to teach their children these lessons in their homes, but now it’s time for everyone to learn. Then pass that education along; each one teach one.
Share information about petitions, donation funds, and calls to actions. Whether you’re emailing, texting, or even reposting on social media, share the information!
Educate yourself on the history of police/policing and prisons in the US and decide whether you agree with the abolishment of them. It might be coming in some areas sooner than you think.
I want to remind you that this is a marathon, not a sprint so please take care of yourself mentally and physically while we continue to fight.