Dear America, We Need To Do Better

I want to begin by saying sorry. Sorry, to my fellow human beings around the world, who have the most beautiful chocolate coloured skin, for regrettably not doing everything in my power to learn about the extents of the racial injustices you face day in and day out. Sorry, for forgetting how privileged I am to wake up in the morning with no fears because my skin is white. Sorry, for not speaking up because it has made me uncomfortable.

But “sorry” is only enough when you vow to make a change and learn from your mistakes. I do. I take that vow.

I understand and respect that I will never fully understand what you’re faced with as a person of colour, every single day. When I’m driving and a police officer pulls me over, I’m not fearful for my life, I’m selfishly fearful over the ticket I may receive. It’s superficial, it’s materialistic, it’s monetary fear, but it’s not life threatening, I’m not going to die from it. It pains me to think that you might.

I mean it when I say, thank-you for making me uncomfortable. Thank-you for showing me I am wrong. Thank-you for calling me out on it. They say, “If you see bullying and don’t act, you’re as bad as the bully.” Well it’s hit me like a ton of bricks to realise that being silent is to be complicit. It’s just as bad. By not acting, I support racial injustice. But I don’t. I do not to no degree or extent.

Through everything, I was so inspired and uplifted to join so many young people using their voices to spread justice for all during some peaceful protests around Los Angeles.

Religion, money and politics were three things I was brought up to not talk about in public. I’m over staying silent. There’s nothing wrong with having an opinion, as long as you’re not pushing your thoughts onto others. But that’s all well and good as long as it’s not injustice. There is only wrong or right, and what has been demonstrated, not only to the late George Floyd, but for years and years, to the community of black people is purely disgusting. We should be ashamed of ourselves for letting it go so far. I certainly am. It’s 2020. Wake up.

I originally titled this essay as, “Dear America, You Need To Do Better.” I’m not an American citizen, I’m Australian, but how dare I not include myself in this mess. It’s not solely my issue but it’s not above me. It doesn’t matter if we don’t consider ourselves racist or prejudice, the moment we pass it off as someone else’s issue, we’re part of the problem. And it’s not just an American problem, it’s a global problem.

But I will say this, America, your election is on Tuesday November 3, 2020. 155 days away. PLEASE, MAKE A CHANGE. PLEASE. IT STARTS WITH YOU AND IT’S IN YOUR POWER.

While I don’t support looting and violence, I see the pain. The people are crying inside and out. The people have had enough. The people are unsupported. The people have been struck down unnecessarily too many times. The people are angry. The people haven’t been heard. The people have been forgotten time and time again. The people are being lead by a white male supremacist who has encouraged violence and racism his entire presidency. “When the looting starts the shooting starts?” How can the President of the United States of America speak like that. Why is gun violence so high? How are over 40 MILLION people out of jobs right now? How did you let over 100,000 of your people DIE in the past four months? WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH?

I’m a journalist. I’m a qualified journalist. And even I can admit that when the news gets tough, I turn it off. There’s so much negativity, but that’s not good enough. I vow to turn it on, I vow to keep it on, I vow to get educated and understand what’s going on in this world. And while I might not be able to vote come November 3, I vow to do my best to encourage others to celebrate their right to do so, make the right choice, stand up for the voiceless and be on the right side of history. I want to live in a world that’s on the right side of history. I don’t want to live in a world of pain and hate anymore. President Trump, I ask you, where were you today? Where were you over the weekend? You were hiding behind closed doors in your bunker trolling people on Twitter. Our President, Joe Biden, was on the streets with the people. Listening to the people. Comforting the people. Celebrating the people.

We will vote you out November 3.

No-one is born racist, judgemental, with malice or hate. It is developed and taught. It is no longer enough to say nothing. Say something. Speak love, speak light and speak acceptance. I refuse to be ignorant. I refuse to be silent. I refuse to accept injustice.

To my black brothers and sisters, I understand words no longer mean anything when they’ve been spoken time and time again, and I understand I will never understand, however, I stand with you, I see you and I hear you. I’m no longer praying for a better world. I’m going to be a part of making it happen.