She Strengthens

The Unrelenting Distraction of Racism

A Painful Reality

We live in times where the most pressing issue is constantly sidetracked. According to Toni Morrison, this distraction is racism – an immense and relentless obstacle, especially for Black people fighting to stay alive and envision a better future. Simply uttering “Black Lives Matter” can provoke violent reactions, even from those considered friends. This reactive instinct, nurtured since the 16th century, has become so ingrained in our system that its gaslighting techniques have gone global.

The Value of Black Lives

As a Black person, it’s heartbreaking to witness people going to great lengths to defend inanimate objects over Black lives. This happened recently in Bristol, a port city in the United Kingdom with a significant history in slave trading. The statue of Edward Colston, a merchant involved in the Royal African Company, was toppled by anti-racism marchers and thrown into the harbor. Vanessa Kisuule, Bristol’s official city poet, captured the emotions of many in her poem “hollow,” wishing Colston to rust in shame.

Defending the Indefensible

In response, various groups and local police swarmed to protect statues. Some were boarded up for protection, while politicians tried to play both sides. Sajid Javid, a Parliament member, acknowledged Colston’s involvement in the slave trade but argued that removing his statue “is not OK.” This case study is not an isolated incident. Across the globe, statues of people who committed atrocities against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are being taken down, from Leopold in Belgium to Columbus across North America and Rhodes in Oxford. However, some are also getting protection.

Protecting Symbols of Racism

By arguing for the statues of virulent racists to remain standing, people are sending a clear message: they would rather invest time, energy, resources, and capital into protecting literal symbols of racism than dismantling societal injustice and anti-Black racism. Cultural critic Kimberley Foster challenges people to consider the rallying cry behind every protest and develop compassion for protestors. Even designer Marc Jacobs, who has displayed problematic behavior, understood the message behind Black Lives Matter, stating that “property can be replaced, human lives cannot.”

Distracting from the Main Issue

The underlying issue being fought for is human life. Questions like “what about the buildings?” and “what about the history the statue represents?” are bad faith arguments that distract from the main issue at hand. They ignore the humanity and dignity of Black people who have to walk past the statues every day, reminded of their painful history. It’s another distraction tactic, selectively framing Black protests as controversial and entitled.

Systemic Racism in Media

The way mostly white newsrooms tell these stories feeds into the devaluing of Black lives. We see it every day, from newspapers to television screens to social media. If we don’t question it, these messages become subliminal, upholding systemic racism. Take how the media highlights looting without covering the many crowdfunds set up to rebuild affected Black businesses. Why are Black protestors regularly demonized while white rioters get infantilized?

Confronting the Ugly History

When London’s Natural History Museum acknowledged that their collections are “rooted in colonialism and racism,” I felt vindicated. Museums are “loot depots,” and it’s rooted in fact. However, many get defensive and refuse to engage with the idea of returning artifacts to their homelands. Attempting to silence well-known facts does not invalidate the ugly history. Black people have been aware of the societal value and judgement on our lives for centuries.

Black Lives Matter

Blackness and Black people have been dehumanized to the level where non-Black people often want our art and “things” but don’t want us and don’t care about our lives and livelihood. We’ve exhausted many means in trying to communicate this message, but together with our accomplices, we will find ways to keep turning the volume up. Because Black lives matter. All Black lives – trans, disabled, poor, queer, undocumented, nonbinary, women – matter.