His Name Is George Floyd
Let’s get one thing straight right away. I am empathetic as fuck.
Having said that, I’m going to spend the rest of this post talking about things I have little knowledge of. I have strong feelings and opinions, but beyond that, it would be the height of hubris, and quite insulting to People of Color (specifically Black folks), to claim that I know what I’m talking about.
As a member of the human race, the murder of George Floyd hurts my soul. That’s all I feel qualified to say about that.
However, as a trans woman, I have been provided with one interesting insight regarding the explosion of protest, anger, outrage, and even violence that is occurring. Back when I was under the mistaken impression that I was a cis male, I considered myself a strong ally of other women in their struggle for equal treatment. Stories of sexual harrassment, victim blaming, and the struggle for bodily autonomy (among other issues), would incense me and fill me with a ‘generalized’ feeling of anger. Now, though, the same issues fill me with a much more personal sense of outrage. The attacks feel much more personal, much more visceral. It’s a subtle but very real difference. It’s this insight that enables me to conclude that the outrage I feel is a pale imitation to the rage felt by POC.
It also makes me realize that it’s time for me to listen to others and educate myself. I don’t have to be perfect, but it’s essential that I try. Acceptance of the status quo, the source of so much of my privilege, is no longer acceptable.
For what it's worth, I was given the name of the Black Visions Collective ( https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/ ), a community advocacy organization from Minneapolis. Their mission statement from their website reads as follows:
Since 2017, Black Visions Collective, has been putting into practice the lessons learned from organizations before us in order to shape a political home for Black people across Minnesota. We aim to center our work in healing and transformative justice principles, intentionally develop our organizations core “DNA” to ensure sustainability, and develop Minnesota’s emerging Black leadership to lead powerful campaigns. By building movements from the ground up with an integrated model, we are creating the conditions for long term success and transformation.
For what it's worth, I was given the name of the Black Visions Collective ( https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/ ), a community advocacy organization from Minneapolis. Their mission statement from their website reads as follows:
Since 2017, Black Visions Collective, has been putting into practice the lessons learned from organizations before us in order to shape a political home for Black people across Minnesota. We aim to center our work in healing and transformative justice principles, intentionally develop our organizations core “DNA” to ensure sustainability, and develop Minnesota’s emerging Black leadership to lead powerful campaigns. By building movements from the ground up with an integrated model, we are creating the conditions for long term success and transformation.
Black Visions Collective envisions a world in which ALL Black Lives Matter. We use the guidance and brilliance of our ancestors as well as the teachings of our own experiences to pursue our commitment to dismantling systems of oppression and violence. We are determined in our pursuit of dignity and equity for all.
I have chosen to make a monetary donation to this group. Perhaps you will, too.
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