Historical Approach To BLM

Here we are again.

It’s 2020 and we have to convince the world (and ourselves) that Black Lives Matter as much as any other. I don’t care how we got here in June of 2020 or why people have suddenly jumped onto the cause, but I am glad that the floodgates have opened. Somehow, more people have made themselves aware of this serious issue and have taken the stand to put an end to systematic racism in America. For that, I am thankful.

Although this is a huge win, there is still a lot of work to be done. I am not the first person to say it and I know I will not be the last. I might be the first one to say that things will get ugly...and that I want them to. When we look at history, it is the only way to create lasting change in this growing world.

If it sounds a bit forceful...good. Historically, any major change in this country was done with a little bit of treason.

It all started with Great Britain. When the colonies here in North America realized that Britain wasn’t all as “great” as they said they were, we declared our independence. (Did you get that? We didn’t ask. We told Great Britain that we wanted to be an independent country, founded on the principles of democracy.) Since Britain, our Mother Country, did not agree with these wishes, they sent soldiers in an attempt to suppress the succession.

We all know how that story ends.

All I’m saying is that that “treason” is not a bad word. In the past, we have identified lots of opportunities within our own country and have taken great strides to create a safe space for everyone. Farmers revolted against high taxes, renters rose up against housing costs, and even prisoners proposed better living conditions.

This is not to blame anyone or a specific group. Change comes with every single year, whether it’s due to technology, natural disasters, political shifts, and more! As a result, the people, and thus the government, have to adjust to the climate. From womens’ rights to the abolition of slavery and segregation, change can be a great thing!

Anyone who says it’s treason to speak out against the blatant systematic struggle of the African American simply has the wrong idea. To be a proud American is to stand up for what’s right, not to sit down and allow the “powers that be” to call all the shots. As a community, the United States has never stood by and allowed other nations to be bullied. Although we are a country run by a government, we tend to be anti-government except where it protects the rights and safety of others.

The only way this movement can stick is if we keep fighting. If it sounds like war, that’s because it is. Our black sisters and brothers dealt with tear gas and firehoses as a direct result of the civil rights protests. Or Latine brothers and sisters are still held in internment camps to this day just for seeking asylum within the safety of our borders. Our Muslim brothers and sisters continue to get profiled after the tragic plane crashes of almost 20 years ago. What we have done so far has simply not been enough to stir up any true systematic change.

Rather than throwing our hands up and asking why, we can realize that change comes only out of hard work. Instead of looking back at all of the little events that brought us to where we are today, we can use the guidance from our strong and dedicated ancestors to be the change we want to see in the world.