Let’s talk about racism

I wasn’t sure whether I should write something or not, worrying about how it might be interpreted, worried about inadvertently upsetting people, but fuck it. I want to see change and if I keep quiet, how can that help change anything?

Racism is a hard thing to talk about and because we don’t really talk about it much as a nation, it makes it even harder.

I saw this quote on Instagram and it really got me.

Yes, I’ve experienced racism. Yes, I’ve had rocks and stones thrown at me. Yes, I’ve been spat at. Yes, people have stared at me in the street as I walk beside my Dad. Yes, I’ve been called the most revolting names. Yes, I’ve been shielded from meeting certain people because of a concern of how they’ll react to me. All of this because of the colour of my skin.

In comparison to what is going on in the US at the moment this is minor, and generally, racism is not as bad in the UK (although it’s still a very real issue), but these actions, most of which happened to me as a child, have stayed with me my entire life.

There’s so much inequality in the world, but the reason for there being so much talk around #BlackLivesMatter, is because we haven’t really moved on. The only change is that more people have mobile phones so they can record the atrocities.

You might think, ‘bloody hell, give it a rest’ or ‘isn’t it time to talk about something else?’, no, it’s time to talk more about racism.

Ask yourself, do you understand why people are rioting? Do you understand why people are marching in the streets? Do you understand why black people are trying to make themselves heard?

Another question you might have is, ‘don’t all lives matter’? Of course they do, but the reason that black lives matter has been created is due to the unjust, the persecution, discrimination and the pure fact that black people are treated differently because of the colour of their skin. This is why.

Something that I ask is really, really take time to think about what you’re saying.

Instead of, “it’s terrible another innocent black man has been killed, but the rioting and destroying of property has to stop’, it should be, “it’s terrible property is being destroyed, but the killing of innocent black people has to stop.”.

So, what do we do? How do we make a difference? We educate ourselves, we read, we listen, we, think, we talk and we learn. Talking about racism shouldn’t be taboo, just as talking about sex, relationships and religion shouldn’t be.

I for one, am guilty of not talking about race in fear of making people feel uncomfortable and yes, I’m mostly referring to white people. I don’t think of myself as different based on the colour of my skin and I find it offensive to describe someone by the colour of their skin, but to some people when they look at me, they don’t see a woman, they see a mixed race or a half cast woman, and I need to acknowledge that. I’ve still got a lot of learning to do, but I look forward to listening, learning and hopefully being able to make a difference.

A x