Right now around the world it is echoed: Black Lives Matter. This outcry has been in a cycle of breaking through only to be actively suppressed by those in power for generations. Right now the racist murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, Tony McDade and too many other Black lives by police has brought hundreds of thousands of people into the streets, uprising against racism in cities around the world.
Police brutality against Black people in the US is a continuation of slavery. The hierarchy of human value providing safety and prosperity to those with the lightest skin is inherited. Health and wealth outcomes are predictable by race. Decades of racist economic policies have created poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and a shorter life expectancy for Black people.
In the New York Times, Michelle Alexander writes, “the politics of white supremacy, which defined our original constitution, have continued unabated — repeatedly and predictably engendering new systems of racial and social control. Just a few decades ago, politicians vowed to build more prison walls. Today, they promise border walls.”
What we know from past generations is that when people band together against injustice, we can make progress. I re-read Dr. King’s 1963 Letter From Birmingham Jail. He was responding to criticism of the protests happening in Birmingham, which were in response to some of the ugliest violence against Black people in the country.
Dr. King stood firm on why the Civil Rights movement traveled to Birmingham. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” Our fate is shared.
As we imagine the future, it is essential to engage the future as now. What generational legacies or ways of living have been passed down to us? Where can we make change? Imagine yourself fifty years from now sitting with future generations. How will your actions right now contribute to a future where race no longer determines life expectancy? Right now more people than ever before in our lifetime are putting their bodies on the line to march in the streets and protest state violence.
It may feel impossible to end structural racism, given the forces profiting from it. We can do nothing and continue down the road of political instability while civilians are preyed upon by militarized police forces. Or we can align our actions with our deepest values to create peace by demanding justice. Actions will take many forms, mediums, and avenues. In the words of Black freedom fighter and former political prisoner Assata Shakur, “Dreams and reality are opposites. Action synthesizes them.”
What action must you take? Right now.
To learn more about our work with legacy at Infinite Growth, read this post.
Danielle is an internationally known story-teller and communications strategist, dedicated to shifting how humans live on the planet towards justice, sustainability, peace, and happiness. Her creative work spans genres, from documentary film, photography and writing to podcasts and immersive video installation. Danielle is the founder of Infinite Growth where she designs and facilitates interactive learning experiences for online and face to face environments, developing vision and voice with groups and individuals.
