Breaking Silence
- Caroline Elsey
- Jun 4, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 4, 2020
I've never been big on expressing myself on social media. I've always been one who prefers face to face communication to get my message across but silence is no longer an option- not when I have the opportunity, privilege, and a platform to share my thoughts with the rest of the world. Especially when it comes to the topic of race.
This is in no way going to correct the problem. As we all know by now, this is an issue that can't be solved over night. It's already taken over 400 years to address it, and things are still not okay by any means. But educating ourselves- I mean really taking the time to listen and comprehend just how complicated and deeply rooted this problem is- is a good start. I implore everyone to listen with an open heart, love with open arms, and change with an open mind.
I've seen racism play out with my own eyes, and I'm sure you have too. In my middle school, in my high school, but I really came to experience and understand just how real it was my first year at Mizzou. To think that peers- who like me were educated enough to get into a University- could be so cruel and ignorant came to me as a complete shock. I was scared, but not as scared as anyone it directly affected. (If you don't know what I'm talking about please click here, but please note there's more to this that I've witnessed myself than what is stated in this text).
I didn't understand it, I don't think I ever could. I took courses that taught me our skin color was solely based on where we were in position to the sun. How did it become a measure of our worth as human beings? I learned that racism is deeply rooted in our society, and has been since the start. I studied films and books that highlighted these indifferences, making it abundantly clear that THERE IS A PROBLEM. It's a privilege in and of itself that I get to learn about these things versus having to experience it in my day to day life like most people- keep this thought in your mind as well.
To leave this brief- because it's not about me right now- I want to use the rest of this post to
promote black blog communities, educational films and books on the topic, along with links to get you more involved.
Blogs to Follow:
Movies/Shows to Watch
Rize- available free here
Eyes on the Prize-available on youtube in parts
Dear White People- available on Netflix
Grown-ish- available on Hulu
I Am Not Your Negro- available on Amazon
When they See Us- available on Netflix
The 13th- available on Netflix
The Hate You Give- available on Amazon
Books to Read
Remember this House -James Baldwin
The Fire Next Time -James Baldwin
White Fragility -Robin DeAngelo
Their Eyes Were Watching God -Zora Neale Hurston
The Color Purple -Alice Walker
How To Be An Antiracist -Ibram X. Kendi
Counting Decent- Clint Smith
Other Links to Click:
I'm taking this time to educate myself, expand my perspective, and be a better human. Are you?
Disclaimer* I am still learning and educating myself on the topic- I want to be better but the only way to learn is to be taught so please share your truths with me so we can grow together.
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