“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” – Malcolm X
I wanted to use my platform to help give vital resources in this time of fighting against racial injustice. African American are fighting for the right to be heard, be seen, and be viewed as an equal in America.
My Personal Letter to America
Dear America,
In the twenty-eight years of being raised in America. You would believe at some point in my life, I would feel like an equal to my fellow white classmates, co-workers, or friends. This day has still not come and as I continue to get older. I wonder if my future children will feel the same uneasy feeling of being black in America.
As a young black woman, I start to reflect on my days during elementary school. I went to a predominately white school in a white neighborhood. The ratio was 1 to 5 black students to a white student in the classroom. You start to feel uncomfortable in your own skin because you can only cling to the other black child in the classroom. You rarely see a black adult as an educator walking down your school hallways. This continues as I move forward into middle school and high school. As I got older, I started to see more children of my color and begin to build strong friendships.
In high school, I saw racial injustice walk alongside me in the hallways. A fellow white student drew a picture of a black classmate in a noose. He would walk around the school with a swastika on his backpack. My friends and I felt uncomfortable to come to school on a daily basis. As I wrote a letter to the dean of students about my friends and I not feeling safe; it was at that moment that I joined the youth program of the NAACP. You start to realize that you have to make your voice heard if you want to see progress.
Racial Injustice in 2020
As I’ve reached the age of adulthood, I started to have my own fight against racial injustice in my career. I have always given my jobs 100% of me from when I clocked into work and when I clocked out. As a young black woman, I have worked twice as hard as my white co-workers. Only to get half of what they receive. I would always be stopped in getting a promotion due to “my attitude.” We know that people like to stereotype black women with an “attitude.” It was shown that people use racial stereotypes as an excuse to stop a promotion or raise.
It makes you stop and think that enough is enough. You start to gain the courage to speak up for yourself and challenge your higher-ups. 2020 becomes the year that you put yourself first and become the owner of your own business. Black businesses being created for present and future black kids to see that they can make a difference in the world.
I hope that one day, you can see all of the pain that you have caused black people. We live in fear that one day our fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters might not come home. Sometimes, someones hate for our race might turn violent and take a life. We are unsure if our future children will experience what it is like to be equal with their classmates. Will they be born into a society where they are automatically hated because of their skin color.
Resources
Here are some resources on where you can donate, support black businesses, and books that can help you understand racial injustice.
Donations
- George Floyd Memorial Fund
- Minnesota Freedom Fund
- National Bail Out
- Black Lives Matter
- Know Your Rights Campaign
- Brooklyn Community Bail Fund
- NCLU NYC
Mental Health for Black People
Black Businesses
- Politicking App
- Politicking App Go Fund Me
- Riot Swim
- The Honey Pot Company (plant-based feminine care)
- PRGcreative (Creative Agency)
- The Koop NYC (candles)
- The Lit Bar (Wine Bar & Bookstore in the Bronx)
Book Recommendations
- Between the World & Me by Ta- Nehisi
- White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told by Alex Haley
- The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and get the Help You Deserve by Dr. Rheeda Walker (Currently Reading)
Please remember these are only a couple of recommendations. There is so much more resources and black business to support out there. If you have any other recommendations, please do not hesitate to comment them below.