Protests, riots, police brutality…
…civil unrest, social distancing & mistrust.
Man, our collective trauma continues to get reinforced on the daily.
This period of discourse has pushed and pulled my comfort and peeled back the bandages of pains i’ve tried to heal, and some that I didn’t know were there. Not pains exclusive to me but those pains i’ve share with so many other black people and other marginalized groups in this country.
I found myself completely withdrawn from news & social platforms to preserve strength and sanctity, to not get lost in the sauce; only to find myself back in that place of anger, disappointment, and simply wanting to slap the white off some white folks (mainly police, Karens, and politicians) after being triggered once again by news that violated my space.
I don’t know, do you?
Ive heard white voices acknowledge their privilege. I heard them chant BLM. I’ve heard conviction in voices. But only a very few ask questions and fewer admit they don’t know.
Throughout my life it’s been challenging to utter the words, “I don’t know.”.
To not know is one of the easiest places to be, though. It doesn’t take much effort. To know, to really know, is exactly the opposite.
This is one of the hardest places to be. It requires humility, responsibility, and care.
It’s ok not to know, that’s where we begin to learn. It’s not ok to know you don’t know and continue that way.
Thats ignorance.
To ignore.
I felt a certain importance when I did know something, especially if it was something others did not. Knowing came with a sense of validation and praise.
But something changed later on. At some point being the smartest was uncool. The kid in class who raised their hand first and blurted out the answer was suddenly, uncool. It was like that kid was oblivious to the fact that it was uncool to know, or uncool to demonstrate that they knew.
Why was it uncool to show you know? Where’d that shit come from?
On second thought maybe being uncool wasn’t the real reason. Maybe it was unpopular to [want to]know.
Popular, depending on the definition means: to be liked.
So unpopularity is to be disliked. This can imply that, maybe, we are disliked if we do know or want to know a certain thing. Why?
If i could throw an idea out here; because to know means to be aware. When we’re aware, people are apt to take action or change a situation. In other words, to change or evolve the way one thinks, acts, or lives.
For some including myself, shining a light on certain topics and issues is rocking the boat. Not many people want to rock the boat. Especially if that boat ride was comfy cushy and made just for them. It invites an uncomfortable feeling that most would prefer not to experience if they had a choice.
And with or without consent, boats are being rocked, with some being completely capsized.
I feel that in order for priveledged white folks and others in ‘La La Land’, to truly know the weight of this oppressive system and ways they unconsciously (or consciously) support it, they must want to know.
That which we put effort towards, we care about.
This could open peoples hearts and minds.
Damaged
Where this oppressive belief system has really damaged us is not through some wealth gap; it’s really caused us an Empathy gap.
Around the world, those who’ve benefited from unjust and unfair practices operate from a lack of empathy.
[Re]search the meaning of empathy, even if you already know.
Our world issues run deep y’all.
They’re deeper than race (sounds very similar to an organized competition doesn’t it?). Deeper than a system. Deeper than most of what we’ve been taught to believe.
Deeper than I want to go in this post tbh.
Navigating these issues are new to me, and often times I don’t know how to.
What it’s teaching me though, is that these issues aren’t my issues alone and although they can piss me off or pain me, i’m encouraged now more than ever to work through these issues together with others.
A reminder I hold is that the greatest issues of our lives are rarely solved overnight, especially when they’ve been implemented through out time. But massive changes do happen, and often start with questions we ask.
With Love 🙏🏽
Gaelan
Learn things
Naz (Urdu)
The pride one feels in knowing that the other’s love is unconditional and unshakable.
Garbage Warrior (Documentary)
Banana trees can grow inside a sustainable home, yes like bananas that you can eat. Ever heard of an earthship?
Look at things
Horizons bridge by Ali Hoff
Listen to things
Last May by Yonderling
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Peace ✌🏽