This reflective piece was written last week on Thursday the 4th of June, but it’s reaching you this Tuesday. Race is discussed so ensure you are comfortable with this before reading. Also, views are my own and should not be extrapolated as a reflection of anything else.
Over the last week I’ve absorbed so much from the world around me that I mentally and emotionally cannot afford to internalise any more right now. This train of thought, so painfully loud in my head I had to detach from the constant stimuli, is the human suffering of our black friends.
Following George Floyd’s murder, social media has been a constant stream of activism. The 2nd of June was heavy with much needed movement to progress our fight against racism. There is a need for all this. These voices should have been heard 400 years ago, yet here we are, fighting for the same thing. People are uniting and making their voices heard in a way that I’ve never witnessed before. There have been huge protests, countless petitions and fundraiser links shared, a global #BlackOutTuesday. An influx of informative reading lists and Netlix recommendations, to urge and aid an understanding of the issues that prevent a harmonic and just society. The pressure applied this week has been intense and ultimately, pressure works. The four cops responsible for George Floyd’s murder have now been charged, Derek Chauvin’s initial first degree charge upgraded to second degree murder (rightfully so) and many other cases reopened. These are all victories in the fight for justice. There have been and will be many more battles before long term change happens.
I think this week I’m making my peace with the fact that although I want sustainable, long term change, I cannot keep up with all the short term battles. I've been finding myself overwhelmed, skipping through IG stories now, posting less and yes, I do feel guilty every time I don’t read a thread. I truly salute those who can keep going because it is not easy.
We can and should occupy the different lanes that this fight calls upon us to occupy. Additionally, I think that everyone has a lane in which they feel compelled to make a difference in. Visualise chess with the various pieces. Each piece has a unique advantage. You use these together to strategise a win.
See, I don't want a world where we have to protest each individual case for the law to only then be enforced fairly. I want a world where I can trust it will be enforced fairly. This includes holding corrupt cops accountable. Same way I don't want a world where we have diversity quotas simply to treat as a tick box exercise. I want us to see individuals for their mind, talent and work ethic and give credit where credit is due. This person has potential? Cool. Mentor them. Nurture them. Who cares what the packaging looks or sounds like. Our differences are how we learn and become better. There is no one single human (or race) with all the answers. Anyone who does discriminate, hold them accountable— aka, fire them at the very least.
I’m a female currently navigating the music industry at a time where boss women are trying to increase the number of females working in music. There are doors available for me to walk through. These doors exist because people before me fought to build them. I’ll have to fight to build not only more sets of doors, but the steps inside too. To build the world as it should be. That’s the lane I feel reflects my strengths, and the lane I feel compelled to occupy. So I need to keep my mental space healthy in order to survive here and get there.
Therefore, I've switched it up. I've retreated to replenish, and I hope everyone else is looking after themselves too.
I'm going to leave you with Obama addressing the Class of 2020 and how he believes us young people can change the world. It filled me with hope.
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