It’s always been interesting to me how a country that was based on the ideal that “all men are created equal” created a society where groups are consistently unequal. The United States, a country known for being “The Land of the Free and The Home of the Brave” ironically has consisted of groups that were always confined by prejudice and has condemned those who were brave enough to challenge oppression. One would think that such a country wouldn’t have hypocrisy running deep through its veins, however, the entire history of America features oppressed groups of individuals working to no longer be oppressed.
This year I took a class called Protest Movements in American History, where we learned about the oppression people face just because of who they are. We heard the heartbreaking stories of arguably the most marginalized group in history, Native Americans, whose lives were ruined the moment Christopher Columbus thought he discovered a whole continent. We discussed the horrifying reality of sexual harassment and abuse, as victims silence themselves because they feel they did something wrong. We learned about women’s suffrage, the disabled, the LGBTQ community, and even pacifists. However, the day we reached Civil Rights in our course work something about a video someone shared really connected with me.
The student shared a clip from a modern documentary about segregation that still occurs in schools. The point is that although the school doors are open to everyone, the classroom doors remain closed to some. This really hit home for me because I had always been appreciative of the fact that my school was diverse. In fact, it is what I have loved most about growing up in my town. Everyone comes from different ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds, and we all seem to unite because of our differences. My family in particular taught me the importance of loving people for who they are, especially if they’re different from me. However, we started discussing how even in a school known for diversity, there are still problems. Some students shared the lack of representation of people of color in honors and AP classes, while others shared that they never get stopped when they’re in the halls without a pass, yet they see non-white students get stopped all the time. Others shared their experience, and many stayed quiet. It was fascinating to me because I had always thought of myself as someone who was hyper-aware of prejudice. I was upset with myself, how could I not notice this? Obviously I recognized blatant examples of racism, but these subtle experiences reinforced to me the system behind it all. I guess ignorance is a side effect of the privilege that has been built into my life. It is a side effect of privilege created by people once upon a time who decided they should forever be in power just because of what they look like.
Although I almost always share my opinion, I felt like it wasn’t my place to speak because I knew that my lack of shared experience would appear as a disingenuous perspective. I wanted it to be an opportunity to learn about experiences I would never have. It baffles me that before this recent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, people thought the fight for Civil Rights was over. Systemic racism has remained pervasive. It is perpetuated by the societal notion that it doesn’t exist anymore. It may seem like there is equality, but this apparent equality is undermined by a lack of equity. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.” But did Dr. King know that to certain groups that oppression would continue for what may actually feel like ‘forever’?
That day in class, I walked away wondering if I was a horrible person. I didn’t agree with the injustice, and I still don’t. In fact, it infuriates me and I make my feelings known whenever I encounter someone who supports the status quo. I’ve been raising awareness in the ways I can and donating to organizations I think can effect change. But society was purposefully constructed so that my life would always be easier. If you’re white, you undoubtedly have privilege. No one is discrediting your hardships, or telling you your life was easy. It’s just a fact that your life was never more difficult because of your skin color. It doesn’t make you a bad person; in fact, recognizing this reality is the first step in the right direction. But not acknowledging it at all means you are part of the problem. The problem of oppression affects more than those directly oppressed; it affects me because it affects my community. It affects my friends and my teachers and the people I meet in the grocery store. It affects the city I love and the towns I will never know. It affects the world. We cannot continue to make the marginalization of groups a normalcy.
From slavery to Jim Crow and segregation to now, black people have suffocated under a system of oppression for more than 400 years. So don’t you dare tell anyone how to protest when you have not once experienced the plight of a black person. Do not invalidate the amount of anger from years of oppression that you’ll never understand. Obviously, all cops aren’t bad, that is not the point. It’s the entire system that needs reform, and those who are “good cops” have the responsibility to condemn the cops who are not. And don’t even get me started on the man in charge of this country. Black Lives Matter.
You cannot degrade the severity of the problem by oversimplifying it with an individual solution. But to my generation in particular, it is our job to create change. We are the change. Whether it is posting on social media, donating to organizations, going to protests, registering to vote, or just having conversations about racism, it is our job to be on the right side of history in the making. So often we hear adults say they’re “a product of their time”, but that is ignorance, and that is someone used to staying on the wrong side of history. It is our responsibility to not be silent because silence is complacency and complacency is a privilege. It is a privilege because those who have the ability to remain complacent are those who will never experience racial discrimination first hand. It’s time to educate and take action. It’s time to learn and make our voices be heard. It’s time to recognize the beautiful colors of people’s skin, and honor their experiences. It’s time to normalize hearing about the bigoted experiences people around you have, and time to stop being so defensive, to break down your white fragility. It’s time to stop making this movement about you by saying “All Lives Matter” because no one said they didn’t, all they said was that black lives should too. It’s our time now, don’t let history repeat itself like it has so many times before. Black Lives Matter.
To learn more and take action:
Anastasia Meininger, aka “Offbeat Rhythms”, is a high school student in Westchester County, a suburb of New York City. She lives with her parents and older brother, and her life is filled with her hilarious and loving Italian, Irish, Greek, and German family, as well as her wonderfully crazy, and diverse group of friends.
Anastasia is a normal, yet distinctly unique teenager who loves performing, making people laugh, and even going to school! Her favorite subject is Science, especially Chemistry, and when she’s not studying, you can find her at her dance studio, where she rehearses for her dance competitions, and vocal showcases.
Sikuzote imekuwa ya kuvutia kwangu jinsi nchi ambayo ilitegemea wazo kwamba "wanadamu wote wameumbwa sawa" iliunda jamii ambapo vikundi ni mara kwa mara tofauti. "Mataifa ya Marekani, nchi inayojulikana kwa kuwa ""Nchi ya Wenye Uhuru na Nyumba ya Mashujaa,"" kwa kushangaza imekuwa na makundi ambayo daima yalikuwa yamezuiwa na ubaguzi na imewakataza wale ambao walikuwa na ujasiri wa kutosha kupinga ukandamizaji." Mtu angefikiri kwamba nchi kama hiyo haingekuwa na unafiki unaoendesha kina kirefu kupitia mishipa yake, hata hivyo, historia nzima ya Amerika ina makundi ya watu waliokandamizwa wanaofanya kazi ili wasikandamizwe tena. "Mwaka huu, nilijifunza kuhusu ""Mashambulizi ya Kihistoria ya Marekani"" na jinsi watu walivyokandamizwa na kuathiriwa na ""mashambulizi ya kisiasa.""" "Mwanzoni mwa mwaka wa 1900, kikundi cha watu wa asili wa Amerika, ambao ni ""watu wa mwisho"" katika historia ya Amerika, walipoteza maisha yao wakati Christopher Columbus alipogundua bara." "Tunazungumzia ukweli wa kutisha wa unyanyasaji wa kingono na unyanyasaji wa kingono, ambapo wahasiriwa hujificha kwa sababu wanahisi wamefanya kitu kibaya.""" Tulijifunza kuhusu haki ya wanawake ya kupiga kura, walemavu, jamii ya LGBTQ, na hata wapiganaji wa amani. Hata hivyo, siku tuliyofika Civil Rights katika kozi yetu kazi kitu kuhusu video mtu alishiriki kweli kushikamana na mimi. Mwanafunzi huyo alishiriki kipande kutoka kwa filamu ya kisasa ya maandishi kuhusu ubaguzi ambao bado hutokea shuleni. Jambo ni kwamba ingawa milango ya shule iko wazi kwa kila mtu, milango ya darasa inabaki imefungwa kwa baadhi. Hii ilinipata sana kwa sababu sikuzote nilikuwa na uthamini wa ukweli kwamba shule yangu ilikuwa na utofauti. Kwa kweli, hilo ndilo nililopenda zaidi kuhusu kukua katika mji wangu. Kila mtu anatoka katika makabila na hali tofauti za kijamii na kiuchumi, na sote tunaonekana kuungana kwa sababu ya tofauti zetu. Familia yangu hasa ilinifundisha umuhimu wa kuwapenda watu kwa sababu wao ni nani, hasa ikiwa wao ni tofauti na mimi. Hata hivyo, tulianza kuzungumzia jinsi hata katika shule inayojulikana kwa utofauti, bado kuna matatizo. Baadhi ya wanafunzi walishiriki ukosefu wa uwakilishi wa watu wa rangi katika heshima na madarasa ya AP, wakati wengine walishiriki kwamba hawajawahi kusimamishwa wakati wako katika vyumba bila kupitisha, lakini wanaona wanafunzi wasio weupe kusimamishwa wakati wote. Wengine walishiriki mambo waliyojionea, na wengi wakakaa kimya. "Nilikuwa na wasiwasi sana kwa sababu nilikuwa na mtazamo wa ""mtu mwenye ubaguzi"" sana." Nilikuwa na hasira nami mwenyewe, ningewezaje kutoona hili? "Kwa wazi nilitambua mifano ya wazi ya ubaguzi wa rangi, lakini uzoefu huu wa kisasa uliniimarisha mfumo wa nyuma ya yote. """ Nadhani ujinga ni athari ya upande wa upendeleo ambao umejengwa katika maisha yangu. Ni athari ya upande ya upendeleo ulioundwa na watu wakati mmoja ambao waliamua kwamba wanapaswa kuwa na nguvu milele kwa sababu tu ya jinsi wanavyoonekana. Ingawa mimi karibu daima kushiriki maoni yangu, nilihisi kama haikuwa mahali pangu kuzungumza kwa sababu nilijua kwamba ukosefu wangu wa uzoefu pamoja itaonekana kama mtazamo disingenuous. Nilitaka iwe fursa ya kujifunza juu ya mambo ambayo singeweza kamwe kuwa nayo. "Amesema: ""Kabla ya kuibuka kwa harakati ya Black Lives Matter, watu walidhani vita vya haki za kiraia vimeisha." Ubaguzi wa rangi wa kimfumo umebaki kuwa wenye kuenea. Ni kuendeleza na dhana ya kijamii kwamba sipo tena. Inaonekana kama kuna usawa, lakini usawa huu wa dhahiri unadhoofishwa na ukosefu wa usawa. "Martin Luther King Jr. aliwahi kusema, ""Watu waliodhulumiwa hawawezi kubaki wakidhulumiwa milele."" - Martin Luther King Jr. ""Watu waliodhulumiwa hawawezi kubaki wakidhulumiwa milele"" - Martin Luther King Jr." Siku hiyo nilikwenda darasani nikiwa na wasiwasi kwamba nilikuwa mtu mbaya sana. Sikukubaliana na ukosefu wa haki huo, na bado sikukubaliani nao. Kwa kweli, hilo hunikasirisha na mimi huonyesha hisia zangu kila mara ninapokutana na mtu anayethibitisha hali iliyopo. Nimekuwa nikiinua ufahamu kwa njia ninazoweza na kutoa michango kwa mashirika ninayofikiri yanaweza kusababisha mabadiliko. Lakini jamii ilijengwa kwa makusudi ili maisha yangu yawe rahisi daima. Ikiwa wewe ni mweupe, bila shaka una mapendeleo. Hakuna mtu anayekudharau ugumu wako, au kukuambia kwamba maisha yako yalikuwa rahisi. Ni ukweli tu kwamba maisha yako hayakuwa magumu zaidi kwa sababu ya rangi ya ngozi yako. Haikukufanya uwe mtu mbaya; kwa kweli, kutambua ukweli huu ni hatua ya kwanza katika mwelekeo sahihi. Lakini kutokubali kabisa kunamaanisha wewe ni sehemu ya tatizo. Tatizo la ukandamizaji linaathiri zaidi ya wale wanaokandamizwa moja kwa moja; linaniathiri kwa sababu linaathiri jamii yangu. Ni kweli kwamba mimi na marafiki zangu, walimu wangu, na watu wengine ambao tunakutana nao kwenye duka la vyakula. Inaathiri jiji ninalopenda na miji ambayo sitapata kuijua kamwe. Inaathiri ulimwengu. Hatuwezi kuendelea kufanya kutengwa kwa vikundi kuwa jambo la kawaida. Tangu utumwa hadi Jim Crow na ubaguzi wa rangi hadi sasa, watu weusi wamedhoofika chini ya mfumo wa ukandamizaji kwa zaidi ya miaka 400. Kwa hiyo usithubutu kumwambia mtu yeyote jinsi ya kupinga wakati hujawahi kupata uzoefu wa hali ngumu ya mtu mweusi. Usiharibu kiasi cha hasira kutoka kwa miaka ya ukandamizaji ambao huwezi kamwe kuelewa. Ni wazi, polisi wote si wabaya, hiyo si uhakika. Ni mfumo mzima ambao unahitaji mageuzi, na wale ambao ni "wakuu wa polisi wazuri" wana jukumu la kulaani polisi ambao si. Na hata usinifanye nianze juu ya mtu anayesimamia nchi hii. Maisha ya Weusi Ni Muhimu. Huwezi kupunguza uzito wa tatizo kwa kulifanya liwe rahisi kupita kiasi kwa kutumia suluhisho la mtu mmoja-mmoja. Lakini kwa kizazi changu hasa, ni kazi yetu kuunda mabadiliko. Sisi ndio mabadiliko. Iwe ni kuchapisha kwenye mitandao ya kijamii, kutoa michango kwa mashirika, kwenda maandamano, kujiandikisha kupiga kura, au tu kuwa na mazungumzo juu ya ubaguzi wa rangi, ni kazi yetu kuwa upande sahihi wa historia katika kutengeneza. Kwa hivyo mara nyingi tunasikia watu wazima wakisema wao ni bidhaa ya wakati wao, lakini hiyo ni ujinga, na hiyo ni mtu aliyezoea kukaa upande usiofaa wa historia. Ni jukumu letu kutokuwa kimya kwa sababu ukimya ni kujiridhisha na kujiridhisha ni upendeleo. Ni pendeleo kwa sababu wale walio na uwezo wa kubaki wenye kuridhika ni wale ambao kamwe hawatapata ubaguzi wa rangi wa kwanza. Ni wakati wa kuelimisha na kuchukua hatua. Ni wakati wa kujifunza na kufanya sauti zetu kusikilizwa. Ni wakati wa kutambua rangi nzuri za ngozi ya watu, na kuheshimu uzoefu wao. Ni wakati wa kawaida kusikia kuhusu uzoefu bigoted watu karibu na wewe kuwa, na wakati wa kuacha kuwa hivyo kinga, kuvunja chini nyeupe udhaifu wako. "Ni wakati wa kuacha kufanya harakati hii juu yako kwa kusema ""Maisha yote ni muhimu"" kwa sababu hakuna mtu aliyesema hawakufanya hivyo, wote walisema ni kwamba maisha ya weusi yanapaswa pia." Ni wakati wetu sasa, usiruhusu historia ijirudie kama ilivyofanya mara nyingi kabla. Maisha ya Weusi Ni Muhimu. Anastasia Meininger, aka <unk>Offbeat Rhythms<unk>, ni mwanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari katika Kaunti ya Westchester, kitongoji cha New York City. Anaishi na wazazi wake na ndugu yake mkubwa, na maisha yake yamejaa familia yake ya Kiitaliano, Kiirelandi, Kigiriki na Kijerumani, pamoja na kikundi chake cha marafiki wa ajabu na tofauti. Anastasia ni tineja wa kawaida, lakini wa pekee sana ambaye anapenda kucheza, kuwafanya watu wacheke, na hata kwenda shuleni! Somo lake la kupenda ni Sayansi, haswa Kemia, na wakati hajifunzi, unaweza kumkuta katika studio yake ya densi, ambapo anafanya mazoezi kwa mashindano yake ya densi, na maonyesho ya sauti.