Stop letting the racism slide

This was written summer 2020, when there were a massive number of protests going on in America. I, for some reason, never got to publishing it at that time on medium (it did appear elsewhere) and recently rediscovered it and feel it is still VERY relevant.

I just jumped off a work call about finding ways to support each other in this increasingly desperate time, I have one main thought I cannot seem to let go.

Your family, friends, and coworkers of color cannot put the burden of being a person of color down. They live with it every day. They might tuck their frustrations and anxieties away for a meeting or dinner party, but they can never truly be free of it. The thing is, they shouldn’t have to expend the mental energy to fight a problem that is not their fault. They didn’t choose to be born a POC or in a country that can’t get its shit together.

You can help them right now. You don’t have to go out into the street. You don’t have to donate money. If you want to feel free, but start with the least obvious and most impactful way to help:

You can start by calling out behavior that is problematic.

You can argue with your uncle at the family cookout. You can fight with your high school friends on Facebook. Don’t be afraid to pick fights; is this a hill you’re going to die on? No, probably not, but it might literally make a difference to someone else’s life one day.

You’re not the one dying at the hands of the police. You’re not the one suffering from a lifetime of racist comments, interactions, and systemic oppression. This is a burden you can put down at will. Please don’t.

Tell your HR manager your boss is behaving unacceptably. Call out your friends. Educate your relatives. Hold people accountable. Its time to stop letting the little things slide cause “they aren’t that bad” or “I don’t want to rock the boat”. Rock the boat.

THROW PEOPLE OUT OF THE DAMN BOAT IF YOU HAVE TO.

Learn what racism looks like. Learn what a good ally does and how they can help. Pick up some else’s burden so that you can lessen their load in the future. Pay your good fortune forwards in whatever ways you can.

And stop letting people’s shit slide. Every time you stand silently by while someone makes a racist comment or gesture, you are silently supporting and allowing that behavior. It’s way, way past time to stop.