Shifting the Energy to Education in the Age of Social Change
Originally published on SoManyThingsToSay.com on August 7, 2020.
Months into a pandemic and nationwide movement against police brutality makes you wonder, “Is there anything else I could be doing with my life? Surely, I must be doing all that I can possibly be doing during this time, right?”
I have had a couple of internal meltdowns myself thinking about whether or not I’m doing all that is possible to be on the right side of history. I mean don’t we all want to tell our future children someday that you protested in solidarity of the BLM movement or that you raised funds for those the pandemic hit the hardest?
As I reflected on my actions and the steps I was taking to help out as much as possible, I found myself wondering why so many people my age and so many people who I followed and even looked up to, were staying silent in the recent weeks and months.
Growing up in a liberal household with parents who’ve always taught me to use my voice and speak up about things that matter the most to me, I had always been very quick to share my opinions and thoughts on social and political movements, and to be honest, I figured many people had grown up the same way and were just as willing to share their opinions too.
Not until I had done more research on the various movements going on in the country did I step out of my own liberal, outspoken bubble and realized that not everyone grew up surrounded by the same practices and beliefs as I did. It never occurred to me that people were not always encouraged to “get political.”
It was easy for me to be annoyed or angry at those people who had not been vocal about the global and national movements that had been taking place over the last few months. However, I learned that if we truly want to enact change, we must shift our energy into encouraging education rather than wasting energy on being upset with those who have remained silent or are just now speaking up.
As I continue to read articles and social media posts, I’m vowing to shift this energy into sharing the knowledge I’ve learned with others.
One of the most important things I’ve learned: EVERYONE HAS SOME LEARNING TO DO!! No matter how educated you think you are on a certain topic, learning and listening to other people’s perspectives and insights will allow you to open your mind up to new information that you may have never come across before. Even if you think you’re a perfect ally and think you’ve done all that is possible to help these movements, it never hurts to educate yourself even more.
So as I continue to shift my energy into helping others become more informed, I’ve compiled a list of the most helpful tips I’ve learned over the last few months:
*Recognize that it is a privilege to learn about racism, rather than experiencing it.
A privilege I did not realize I had was only having to educate myself on racism and the history of systemic oppression rather than actually having to face it in my everyday life. Just understanding that and taking it into consideration when beginning conversations about race is extremely important!
*Keep going. The movement doesn’t stop just because your IG feeds are going back to normal.
I think we have all noticed that a lot of social media influencers and celebrities with large followings have gone back to posting normal content without even mentioning the BLM movement or just mentioning the names of George Floyd or Breonna Taylor. Just because the people we follow and maybe even look up to have decided that the movement is done with and not worth posting about does not mean you have to do the same. Keep reposting IG stories or tweeting about the injustices that are still going on at this very moment. Share and sign petitions, donate to bail funds if you are able to, just keep going.
*Whether you realize it or not, we all have a platform. USE IT!!
When we think of people with “platforms” we think of influencers and celebrities with millions of followers. That is not necessarily the case. Whether you have 200 or 2 million followers, you have the ability to reach people with your posts, people who may have not seen something if you had not shared it. Even though I do not have a very large social media following, I try to post something related to the BLM movement and the global pandemic everyday just to try and keep the momentum going. Although it may seem simple, sharing with your followers new information on the history of Juneteenth, for example, or upcoming protests in your area, or even reminding them to wear a mask and to be kind to essential workers is sooo helpful! You will help educate someone whether you realize it or or not!
*Even though it can be scary, having conversations about these issues with your own friends and family is so important.
Like I mentioned before, I have always been outspoken about my beliefs within my own family or circle of friends because for the most part, we all share the same ideals. However, for those of us who are not in the same situation, having these conversations can be scary. Even though it may be challenging at times, correcting someone when they make or racist/sexist/homophobic/etc. remark can be very impactful. Once again, merely having these conversations with friends or family members rather than experiencing racism/sexism/homophobia/etc. firsthand is a privilege within itself. Use your privilege for something good!
*VOTE IN NOVEMBER AND REMIND YOUR FRIENDS TO REGISTER TO VOTE!
One of the most important pieces of advice I can offer is to VOTE IN NOVEMBER!! According to the Pew Research Center, there will be 24 million eligible Gen Z voters in the 2020 election, however that number will not mean anything if we do not get out to the polls. It’s easy to sit back and assume that an election will lean one way or the other, but there is too much at stake to just watch an election happen. Use your voice! Use your platform no matter how big or small to encourage others to vote! We have the ability to change the future of the nation! So let’s change it!
Lastly, here are a couple of the amazing Instagram accounts that have helped me stay informed. They post super helpful daily content on how to be true, informed allies:
Some shows/movies on Netflix I’ve watched during quarantine that have also helped me stay very informed:
13th, Ava DuVernay
When They See Us, Ava DuVernay
Dear White People, Justin Simien
I have a lot of faith in the next generations of voters, businesspeople, policymakers, etc. We are eager to use our voices for good, we just can use a little reminder here and there to help keep these movements going in the right direction.