After the protests have ended,
After the accusers have been convicted,
After the hashtags quiet down,
After the protests are no longer relevant,
What’s next?
I asked myself this very question.
What’s next?
Less than twenty-four hours prior, I participated in the world’s biggest Civil Rights Movement, yet I felt afraid, hurt, and scared.
The reality of knowing that this pandemic of racism within our world still exists frightened me.
I couldn’t help to think that at any moment, I or someone I love could easily be another hashtag.
Will our lives matter?
The first time racism hurt me was in 2012.
My timeline on social media flooded with posts about a Florida neighborhood watch member hunted down and killed a 17 year old unarmed black boy, Trayvon Martin.
I followed the story to only discover the man who murdered the teen would eventually get acquitted of his charges!
The pain overwhelmed my heart.
Because of the color his skin, the young man’s identity appeared as a threat and life didn’t seem to matter to another human being.
Nationwide protests and usage of #BlackLivesMatter started to trend with the intent to bring awareness of racial injustice.
Years passed and more black lives were taken in the same manner.
Eric Garner
Michael Brown
Tamir Rice
I slowly started to become numb to the pain until racism came knocking at my door.
In 2015, my soror, Sandra Bland’s life shortly ended due to similar circumstances.
Once again, I watched people, including myself, come together in protest marches saying Black Lives Matter and establishing a new chant, Say Her Name.
Unfortunately, the cycle continued with more black lives sadly taken.
Philando Castile
Terrance Crutcher
Botham Jean
Atatiana Jefferson
Eventually, the protests yet again calmed down until here recently.
In less than thirty days, three black lives sparked international attention that I believe will shift our world’s paradigm on how we approach racism.
Ahmaud Arbery
Breonna Taylor
George Floyd
Vision produces life.
Racism is taught through one’s environment that their race is superior.
I believe the reason why racism continues to infect the hearts of people is due to lack of knowledge.
Right now, as believers we have a great opportunity to be the example of God’s love for our world presently and generations to come!
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepth the law happy is he.
-Proverbs 29:18
You may be wondering what is the law?
One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him (Jesus) with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses? Jesus replied, you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.
-Matthew 22:35-39
Our presence is needed!
There are people who are watching us post, comment, or speak on racial injustice.
For many, we may be the only bible that people read.
We can not afford to be silent or loudly ignorant.
The antidote to hate is love.
There are some of us experiencing first encounters with people who don’t look like us asking questions about racism or how they could get involved with this movement.
There are others of us who have people in our spheres of influences who speak badly on other races.
In order to break this cycle, we have to start being bold with God’s word.
This only can happen with an intentional relationship with Him through prayer and reading His word.
Therefore, when opportunities to end racism come our way let’s not tread lightly.
We can not wait for other people to change we have to take charge and lead by God’s example.
Our world needs us!
My prayer is that in this moment we will surrender any hateful thoughts of people who differ from us. We will begin to see ourselves and every individual the way God sees us. Our lives will have purpose and matter. I declare our examples of God’s love will infect every person we encounter.
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Relationship Nuggets!
Vision produces life.
The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.
The antidote to hate is love.
We can not wait for other people to change we have to take charge and lead by God’s example.
This post is dedicated to every black life taken due to racial injustice.
Their lives will forever matter
Writer: BG
Photo Credits: Micah Patrick-Foster
MorganTracyJ
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