The Shades of the Black Lives Matter Movement

I would never have dreamed of such a day in America. I could not imagine the possibility of rubber bullets and tear gassing, unmasked acquaintances, and close contact of strangers made insignificant by the pandemic. Imagine streets filled with thousands of people marching together as the disease spreads.

Fear of COVID-19 has been overcome by the desire for justice. While the virus cannot pick and choose who should live or die, those few racist institutions in this country that are meant to "serve, protect and protect" have the power to do so. It is a shocking fact that Coronavirus provides its victims with a better chance of defending themselves than the police force of this country gives black people. This has allowed the nation to come out of quarantine.

Never has the public been so united in the cause of justice. Never has a movement been so loud that it resonates around the world. The world finally hears the call for change, but some still struggle to listen. The in-between shades between black and white are the billions of millions, an abyssal of uncertainty upon which much of the globe teeters.

I'm not black but I'm not white. So where does my community and I stand? Which side do we fall on the continuum of privilege and action?

I am a South Asian citizen and was raised in a society that fear darkness. The trauma of colonial racism has resulted in decades of foreign rule and a culture that venerates whiteness as a sign of class and status. This sentiment is perpetuated by anti-blackness.

As a child, I was surrounded by aunts and uncles who casually commented on the appearance and character black people. This was a reflection of dangerous post-colonial attitudes. Although I was aware that they were not malicious, the dehumanization and disrespect behind their comments reminded me of the ugly truths being revealed in American society today.

My gnashing lips sealed the traditional value that elders should never be questioned. I had to endure repeated microaggressions, slurs and forced laughters as I faced blatant disregard for black dignity. I am complicit in perpetuating racism and anti-blackness by my silence. There is no way to stop it.

As a child, I was surrounded by aunts and uncles who casually commented on the appearance and character black people. This was a reflection of dangerous post-colonial attitudes. Although I was aware that they were not malicious, the dehumanization and disrespect behind their comments reminded me of the ugly truths being revealed in American society today.

Since so many years, I have been conditioned to accept the values of my elders and believe that one cannot change after a certain age.

Now, I see the failures of my community to address racism not as inherent malice but as ignorance and lack understanding around what the fight for equality between black people and white people means for us.

America's South Asian community is largely made up of immigrants. For many, the American Dream is a symbol of a successful, well-educated white person. We get lost in the dream and forget that the foundation on which our lives are built was laid by the African American liberation struggles in the 19th century and 20th centuries.

Their fight was what allowed us to reach the United States, and their sacrifice is what made it possible for all peoples of different races and religions to live in this country. We have the opportunity today to give back and stand in solidarity with black people against oppression.

I don't believe the racism black people face and that of other races can be considered the same. However, I believe that the same dehumanization, disrespect and ignorance as America is fueling existing racist institutions around the globe.

We have the chance to help the black community fight for their rights today.

Black Lives Matter is an American-born symbol of change. It has the potential to inspire sweeping positive changes away from discriminatory ideologies that rule the lives of all marginalized persons - provided that we keep the conversation going.

We must not only recognize the U.S. race problem, but also be active, aware, vocal. Recognize your own biases and hold yourself and your peers responsible for past actions and words. We must listen to and learn from the stories of African Americans and amplify the voices of those who can add to the story.

BLM is also our fight, against every terrorist joke, extra security check at airports and anxious stare at our heads. It is our fight against disrespect, dehumanization and ignorance that allow others to question our character as they do black people. It is our fight against injustices that every marginalized group, every oppressed person on the basis of religion or race faces.

Humanity must strive to make the world a better place for all people, regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, or nationality. Understanding the violations of the rights of black Americans in this country is the first step towards ending systemic racism across the globe.

We have the opportunity to show that youth won't allow the prejudices and racial beliefs of our predecessors to dictate how they view each other. We can all work together to rewrite America's history and create a precedent for equality for all.

Although I don't identify as a black or white person, I know the importance of my role in the BLM movement goes beyond those two races. Millions more are imagining their chance to join their brothers and sisters fighting for their freedoms in the BLM movement.