The Truth of White Supremacy

As we boarded the plane in Poland to come back to the US, an alert popped on my phone. There had been a mass shooting in Buffalo, NY. I didn’t have time to click the story as we took off. But as soon as we landed, the alerts started coming in.?

Another racist shooting perpetrated by a white man who was peacefully arrested. 10 people were killed. Grandmothers and granddaughters. Sons and best friends. Community members. Husbands and wives. Gone.?

Their only offense? Stopping at a grocery store for food while Black.

I have a very real question…

Are there any safe places in this country for Black people??

After I let the rage, upset, disappointment and disgust move through me. (it happens faster these days as now I’ve had a lot of practice these last few years) I thought about next steps.?

Is there more I could be doing? And I decided no. There’s not more that I could be doing. But there sure as hell is more you could be doing. I’m looking at you white people.

We have been lulled into thinking that posting on social media and sending thoughts and prayers is all that you are capable of. The thoughts of it’s too big of a problem or I’m too heartbroken, too numb, too busy, too overwhelmed just don’t cut it. Sorry not sorry.?

It basically boils down to one thought. One decision. And it’s a decision you might not have known you have made.?

It’s the same decision in which white supremacy was born, that fosters violent acts, that allows Black people to be killed while shopping at the grocery store, walking into our houses, jogging down the street, and sleeping in our beds, to just name a few.

Want to know what that decision is??

It’s the decision that YOU ARE NOT ENOUGH.?

The only reason that white supremacy is a thing is because at its core, one has to believe first that they are inferior in order to have the desire to be superior over another. And so you have to manufacture superiority to make yourself not feel inferior.

Ya feel me??

The impact of white supremacy is not just violent acts that make the news. No, it’s actually much worse.??

It’s any time you agree with your not enoughness.?

And how does not enoughness show up?

It shows up as overwhelm. It shows up as paralysis. It shows up as I’m too busy. I’m too scared. I don’t have time. I can’t do this AND my life too. I have to choose my cause.

It’s not your fault. As we have always said, white supremacy hurts white people too, ya’ll just don’t know it.?

Well, if you didn’t know, now you know.?

And, I have good news. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Every time, you show up as your full authentic self, willing to look at the devil in the mirror and see through to the truth that he does not exist, and actually just let yourself see yourself, your true self for the truth of who you really are, THAT is being anti-racist. THAT is how you defeat white supremacy.?

When you give up the identity of not enoughness, when you make a different choice, when you CHOOSE ????TO ????BE???? ENOUGH, there is not a law you can’t pass, a conversation you can’t have, a person you can’t love, a thing you can’t do or have.?

Do not settle for anything less. I’m not just calling you to do more, I’m inviting you to BE more. Be more than the smallest version of yourself that white supremacy has told you to be.?You can do it. And if you stumble, know that we’ve got your back.?

So, first, go to the mirror. Then GO GET YOUR PEOPLE.

Ok, I’m out.

Aja