Black Lives Matter!

Tierney Langdon Tierney.Langdon@gcpsk12.org

Black Lives Matter

I remember as a child, watching cartoons and playing with toys, impersonating characters that looked like me. I never had to ask why toys and cartoons did not look like me. They all looked like me.

BLACK REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

I came from a family history of “Living the American Dream”. No worries of who to trust. No immediate judgment and disregard from others. Accepting all the freedoms related to “The Land of The Free”.

BLACK FREEDOM MATTERS.

As a child growing up, my family experienced occasional loss of employment, but with optimism of the next opportunity to come. No rejection upon first introduction. No concern that a new job may not come soon.

BLACK PROSPERITY MATTERS.

Currently in my career, I deliver lessons and give presentations. I search for images and videos that my Black students can relate to. It takes specific searches to find diverse images, in a world that continues to default to white.

BLACK REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

As a teenager getting pulled over for speeding, I was treated kindly and given warnings instead of fines. My Black friends’ experiences were more accusatory than mine, questioning their destinations and intentions.

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

I remember being given safety talks about staying in groups during social events. My Black friends were given talks on how to not look guilty, to comply and leave hands where they can be always seen.

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

“BLACK LIVES MATTER.” A statement that some understand, but many of us don’t. We miss opportunities to be educated, to understand we have pockets of privilege; ignorant to the social injustices that still exist so often today.

We become somber. We hold our heads down when we hear of yet another act of violence by those who hold positions of authority, power, and/or privilege, resulting in a precious life lost. A nation where we have become desensitized to violence and have lost empathy to feel sadness by yet the loss of another life. The loss of another life who was judged by the color of their skin. We assume because of the amount of time that has passed since The Civil Rights Movement that an equal life is guaranteed for all. This is not the case! Our reality is shown in the tragedies that the news spreads each night.

As white people, we won’t fully understand, because we do not have the underlying FEAR that has existed generation after generation. BUT we can break the ignorance. Have empathy. Be willing to listen. To learn. To share in their voice. Become louder and louder. Listen. Learn.

BLACK LIVES MATTER!