The late great Nipsey Hussle was a pillar of his community as well an international icon. He was able to elevate beyond his circumstances, care for a loving family, raise beautiful children, and spread knowledge in the very community he was elevating in. One of his most famous mixtape titles and mantra is The Marathon Continues. In the current state of the world I can’t help but to be reminded of Nipsey’s words and the importance of the marathon continuing.
In the wake of the untimely murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless others the Black community is fed up of our lives being claimed by those sworn to protect and serve. Funeral services are not the types of services we imagined we’d receive at the hands of police throughout the nation. Thanks to organizations such as Black Lives Matter, Until Freedom, the Grassroots Law Project, Change.Org, CampaignZero, the NAACP, the works of activists including Tamika D. Mallory, Brittany Packnett, Shaun King, Barack Obama and many Many MANY more organizations, activists, businesses, and media outlets news and traction of this movement has been making significant strides. There’s so much more that still needs to take place from changes in infrastructure to arresting (and subsequently convicting) the murderers of Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain among others whose lives were prematurely taken at the hands of those we’re supposed to trust to protect and help us.
We all have a part to play in ending the social injustice that Black people face in America at the hands of the police and a faulty infrastructure. Nobody is asking for you to be something you’re not. You are being asked to find an authentic role to play. If you’re unsure what that means, here’s 5 ways you can get involved in your lane:
1. If you want to use your voice, but are shy and/or afraid to publicly protest: Sign a petition
2. If you’re comfortable publicly speaking: Call government offices requesting change
3. If you’re artistic: Create artistic pieces to educate others
4. If you’re an extrovert: Join a peaceful protest
5. If you’re an introvert: Donate to a cause related to the movement (e.g. one of the various organizations across the country accepting donations to post bail for protestors)
Thank you to all of the leaders, activists, organizers, allies, and supporters!
What EVERYONE can do: VOTE! Make sure you’re registered to VOTE on-time, know your voting location, and know your voting date(s). Find your voting status and information here.
Note: If you peacefully protest, please keep yourself and others safe from COVID19 by wearing a mask that covers your nose AND mouth.
Keep in mind, this is not the same as previous demonstrations. Enough is enough. This has become an international movement. Not only does the Black community deserve equal protection and treatment, but we’re demanding it without apology. However, since this is a marathon we must maintain this energy. In order to run a marathon of this distance you need to know when and where to rest. You can’t pour from an empty cup or drive a car with an empty gas tank. This edition is created to uplift our community while achieving the calm we need to refill our mental and spiritual reserves to keep purposefully pursuing justice.
Self-Care and Reflection Journal: Blackout Edition
A guide to finding your peace in the midst of storms
A 20+ page journal with reflective prompts, affirmations, and positive Black imagery.
Preview copy will be available again Jan. 2, 2022.
If you’re still on the fence, it’s time to hop off. The question is, which direction will you go? Here’s some additional resources that may help you have this conversation, especially around children: CNN/Sesame Street Racism Town Hall.
There is another Self-Care Journal edition in the works. Click here to let me know the hardest part of self-care for you.