A Racist Pandemic: Bringing Peace to Black America

We are speaking up about the injustices, and no longer will we stay silent about the things that matter.

The virus of racism needs to be cured.

Society is grieving from a health pandemic, unemployment, and the racial injustices that seem to have no end.  This time during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us more about the inequalities of our society than ever before.

With a running total of about 40 million people unemployed in the United States, people of color are hit harder by the pandemic than other racial groups. As victims of crisis within a crisis, there are striking disparities in several ways.

Institutional and systematic racism is being put on display. According to recent reports, statistical data has been steadily revealing Black Americans to be at the highest risk of dying from COVID-19. But not only from catching the infectious virus. There were disproportionate numbers of Black people arrested and cited for violating the stay at home order.

Moreover, the larger systemic issue of police brutality has made it to the forefront once again. Sparking a multitude of protests across the country demanding justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others before them who did not get media attention.

Police murder disproportionate numbers of Black people, and hardly few have been held accountable for their actions. A police officer is more likely to be convicted of a misdemeanor crime than of actual murder.

Enough is enough. Racist policies and practices need to change.

Collective Trauma

When people see the world for what it really is, the uncomfortable truth, our eyes open and our hearts hurt from the painful reality.

Through this collective trauma, as we find ourselves grieving the loss of our community. Dealing with the emotions from loss is extremely difficult, as grieving can be emotionally painful.

To be a negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all of the time.  – James Baldwin

Anger is a normal stage of grief. Black people in the U.S. are constantly grieving from the pain and suffering from the loss of Black lives. It is not weak, violent, or immature to express anger as it can also occur at the same time as sadness and vulnerability. It is valid to feel sad, disgusted, exhausted, angry, or numb when repeatedly witnessing traumatic events.

Racial trauma is a public health emergency. There are large impacts as a result of the experiences of traumatic stress. The trauma experienced from the repeated witness of death and the hypervigilance (state of being constantly tense, on guard, and exceptionally aware of your environment).

Self-Care in a Crisis

Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.  – Audre Lorde

Continue to care for yourself even when it seems the world does not care for you. Finding things in life that bring you joy.

…Take a deep breath…

Inhale………… Exhale………… repeat…

Your breath stays with you and can allow you to calm your nervous system in this time of high stress and frustrations.  Allowing you to have the mindset to think clearly.

Together We Rise. We will overcome.

Speak your truth and tell your story. Don’t let anyone else tell your story for you. Let your voice be heard.

One statement from my brother is notable. He says:

“To make an everlasting change, one must make an everlasting commitment and vision that others can follow that promotes positivity education. Courageous to pushing forward even when everyone and everything is going wrong and empower those that have no control over their circumstance.” – Nathan Mabin (Black male, age 23)

Final Note,

The government is not only failing Black people. It’s failing its people.

We are fighting both an invisible enemy (coronavirus) and a visible enemy (racist acts of violence) both covertly and overtly trying to take our breath and our lives.

The bottom line is that the policies and behaviors need to change to enforce the laws that stop police brutality and corruption.

It’s not how people are responding, but that people are responding.

Today’s time is indeed a bit different from protests and demonstrations during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s This time we have young multi-ethnic and multicultural all uprising together for the same cause. As we come together, we can solve the problems the world needs to fix.

To all my young people:

Keep living your lives, keep breathing, and keep speaking your truth. We will overcome.

B strong,

Aysha

A list of ways you can help can be found here.