Socio-Cultural — 73
you. They don’t have the same stake as you do in this war, and can only be relied upon to let you down as white people have for centuries. Self-care sessions with your friends of colour, whether a casual lunch or coffee, will make a world of difference to you as tensions increase.
them in a crowded place or away from surveillance. --
Long sleeved shirts and jeans will save you a few scrapes if things get rough, and protect against airborne irritants. Again, these will help cover up any distinguishing marks. With clothes and masks, avoid wearing pieces that can be used to identify you — a darker neutral colour is best.
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Invest in good protective gear, or make your own — a two litre soft drink bottle can be made into a handy gas mask with the help of a dust mask and some duct tape (useful for combating both pepper spray and tear gas assaults), and a few dollars worth of wood from Bunnings and a free template makes an effective shield (capable of withstanding more severe blows that you may receive). Cut-resistant gloves are also handy and available at any reputable hardware shop.
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Protect your eyes. Sunglasses or standard eyeglasses are fine.
Safety is and always has been a priority of our revolutions. Every time there is racial unrest, white people have a habit of paraphrasing Gandhi, or choosing select quotes of Martin Luther King Jr’s words to insist that violence isn’t the answer. I, however, prefer the rest of that quote; “a riot is the language of the unheard”. I won’t tell you to stay away from the front line. I will give you some tips to keep you tip top:
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If you do get hit with irritants, cool whole milk is key to flushing your eyes and soapy water for washing your skin. Remember to discard contaminated clothing.
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Remember to stay hydrated in the field, it aids clarity of thought as well as general health and wellbeing.
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Know your rights. Rights cards can be found at many public libraries and are also available online. It’s also good to have a pen or marker on hand for phone numbers that need remembering.
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Self-preservation is key. Know when to get out and take a break if things turn nasty. Live to fight another day.
Routine If you’ve ever watched any white movie or television show, you would know that having a routine will get you killed. You would also know that white people always run straight toward what everyone else is running away from. Don’t listen to what the whites say about safety, especially when we have to live in a world they destabilised. In our increasingly unstable environment, it’s useful to have some sort of routine to provide us with consistency when we cannot be assured of any. Sharing plans and schedules with your loved ones will go a long way to ensuring peace of mind in unstable times. Safety
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Avoid confrontation with violent groups, especially white nationalists. They’ve proved time and again that they have no moral qualms about savagely beating their ideological opponents. Don’t engage them and risk being targeted by their counterparts with greater authority. Learn how to effectively mask. A simple, bandanastyle mask will protect you to a minor extent from pepper spray, but more importantly it will protect your identity. Bear in mind that most states are beginning to implement anti-masking laws, so only mask up when the situation heats up. Only remove
A New Age is coming and coming fast. Stand fast with each other to usher in our time. Do not go gentle into that good night, Whiteness should burn and rave at close of day; rage, rage against the dying of the light.