I write this article with a heavy heart. We have witnessed another African American slain by the hands of the Police. Those that are sworn to protect them; but it seems they have been handed a license to kill. African Americans are tired of having to fight the nice fight. We all should be tired of watching online as they are taken from us in horrific ways.
The thing about this reality is they can’t fight alone. They shouldn’t fight alone, we as brown people and white people need to rise up with them to ensure that there is so much representation for them and the issues that are affecting them. Such as police brutality, mass incarceration, and institutional racism.
White people have come out in support but who I am speaking to is my people: Hispanics and Latinos. We need to remember that we aren’t white and we aren’t ever going to be accepted as white. That shouldn’t be the motivating factor because we should see Black people, who are people of color and we should stick together as people of color.
In this time of oppression we need a united front. That means those Latinos or Hispanics who think they are white, it’s time to open your eyes and see the truth. It’s time to have solidarity with the Black population. How can we ask for help when our issues arise but not speak up when Black people are facing their issues?
If you subscribe to the notion of they shouldn’t be protesting or they should do it a different way. All of the protests have started peacefully and have been made violent by overreaction by police officers. Also how can we turn and not acknowledge the police violence against Black people? The looting has been done by others who wanted to already loot or a group named Antifa who are there to get their point across in a militant way. Also white supremacists groups have been arrested in connection to the looting and destruction of businesses.
Please educate yourself on the protest and what is occurring. Do not let the news be the only way that you hear about this. Do not let your parents be guided by one side of the story either. Remember where you came from, where you parents came from and your grandparents. They immigrated here and didn’t live well or get treated well.
Please educate yourself and your family. Do not expect to be educated because Black people are fighting for themselves right now.