by Nathalie Abiodun
The murder of George Floyd by Officer Derek Chauvin along with Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas K. Lane – is crushing. It is another lesson of agony and inner turmoil that none of us asked for, but we need to take a seat and listen to.
You’ll learn:
• How societal systems and frameworks perpetuate the systemic alienation and suppression of people of colour
• The role of Black Twitter in reclaiming narratives
• Ways in which you can take action
Agony and empathy are not dictated by geographical borders or political boundaries. Black people in the UK are in pain. Chauvin’s knee on George’s neck is an all-too-familiar metaphorical picture of what it feels like to be black – anywhere. We hurt as George – a kind and loving giant – was killed because he could be killed; was silenced because he could be silenced.
We are upset as Londoners, Mancunians, Britons etc because being black precedes citizenship – all day, every day. No, we can no longer put on a brave face for our white colleagues as we see that yet again how being black is positioned as a handicap. This is not unique to America – it’s a universally black experience.
On this side of the pond, we’ve witnessed the theatre of police brutality against black people and instigating words by US President Donald Trump following recent Black Lives Matter protests (and past incidents of injustices). Ironically, such inflammatory responses only fan the flames of why people are marching.
The bullish actions of the police, national guard and seat holder of the most powerful position in the world, is a picture of how the manipulators of justice are psychologically armed, openly goaded and lawfully protected. It’s a picture of the judiciary, governmental policies, and societal frameworks that perpetuate the systemic alienation and suppression of people of colour. George’s pleas for breath, the first gift God gave him, is the sound of failing humanity.
The impact of racial injustice, discrimination and microaggression on mental health, self-esteem and personal perspective is not something that is openly discussed but it is widely felt. Personal, local, national and global stories of discrimination, both past and currently lived, form a cancerous cluster of confusion and indignation as to why the world is like this.
Trying to navigate this understanding and showing up to your 9 to 5 is another thing all together. The workplace is a hotbed of microaggressions upheld by systematic discrimination and tact. Honestly, many of us are tired of being tired. Dear white people, that is a reality your colleagues are dealing with.
Black Twitter: Reclaiming narratives
In such times, social media has become an ally. “Black Twitter” is a real thing. A global community and a more-often safe space to vent your frustrations, along with other people of colour.
Not just on Twitter, on other social media and communicative platforms such as WhatsApp, we have used them as an outlet to laugh, ideate solutions, and take control back of narratives that are damaging to black people, narratives that are often distorted or part of a mainstream agenda. Taking control of the narrative is something we all can do not just on a public stage but within our social groups and chats, and what we personally choose to feed on.
Black people have trusted social media to share the truth on examples of injustice compared to mainstream media. Many of us knew about George’s murder before it was reported by the BBC et al. That is not because the early bird wins the race but rather, integrity reporting is something the mainstream struggles or chooses to ignore so we look to other sources.
Now we use first-hand live accounts and videos on social media, and social commentary to fact check mainstream reports. Now we green light the stories that would have been swept under the carpet, instead of waiting for an editor to approve it for public consumption. A lot of reporters and publications are playing catch up.
Thanks to social media reporting and social commentary, we are controlling the narrative. Whether it’s reported by the mainstream or not – the narrative in our minds and communities because victim shaming is disproportionately higher in stories about people of colour.
When a video shows the unsolicited murder of Ahmaud Arbery – we see it, believe it and tune out the subsequent media reports that bring up allegations against the victim of prior thefts and trespassing.
When we hear about the unarmed Mark Duggan shot by police – we tune out the images circulated by the press of Mark with his fingers in a “gun sign” to appease the killing of another unarmed black man.
As we’ve seen with the rise of social media, we can all lend our voice to issues of any kind. Your voice is important. Your words have value.
I am not okay, but I am not silent.
Black. Lives. Matter.
Justice for the black people that don’t make our timelines.
In the cases of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Shukri Abdi, Christopher Kapessa, Belly Mujinga, and more, these are but a few ways in which we can take action:
Donate: You can donate to anti-racism charities, networks and organisations, including Black Lives Matter, or to families around the globe directly impacted by racial injustices.
Educate: https://blacklivesmatter.com/ (Is an international movement)
Economic empowerment: Which brands and organisations support your values? Which are those that don’t? Let’s do the research together. Your investment is your power.
Voice: Speak up. Knowledge sharing is vital.
Petition: Justice for George Floyd | Justice for Breonna Taylor | Justice for Shukri Abdi | Christopher Kapessa | #WeCan’tBreathe | and unfortunately more. Google is your friend: there are petitions that you can sign your name to.
Justice for George. Justice for Breonna Taylor. Justice for Ahmaud. Justice for Shukri Abdi. Justice for the black people that don’t make our timelines.
Nathalie Abiodun Writing your biography, especially in the third person, is an incredibly awkward ordeal. Biographies should be inspiring versus a means to compare each other’s achievements or measure our worth against what we haven’t yet achieved. So, I will keep this short and sweet, and in the first person.
I am an advocate of the power of voice. I believe we should be unapologetic and open in our conversations about what stirs us, and trust that it will inspire others to do the same. The goal isn’t to be the smartest in the room but to either listen or speak up, or both. In that, my passion for transparent communications and conversations comes alive in advocacy for diversity consciousness, intersectionality and social impact. My life’s journey has been paved with many reminders and evidence that I can “do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), and today, as you read my work, I am reminded of this truth yet again. Let’s use our diverse platforms and talents for a greater purpose beyond our lives.
Twitter: @abiodunnathalie
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nathalie-abiodun-a0198398
Web: nathalieabiodunpr.wordpress.com/