Supporting Black lives and activism
Solidarity, direct action, the future of COVID, Black lives matter around the world, rich lies, and care cards
Hi friend,
In just a week, our world has transformed once again. This time, it was catalyzed by another senseless death of a Black man. George Floyd’s neck was pinned to the ground for almost nine minutes and he died suffocating at the hands of a police officer. Protests erupted in every state, bringing a light of justice. By Thursday, all four officers involved were finally arrested for the death of George Floyd.
Why must we rally to demand our system to be fair and just?
But in this past week, an uglier truth emerged. Peaceful protests have turned violent, not at the hands of the activists, but by the weapons of the police. Even the man who trains San Jose police officers on bias and discrimination was shot with a rubber bullet as he was trying to de-escalate a recent demonstration.
Why must we fear for our lives as we protest against violence and brutality?
And the most shocking thing of all…
Without our phones recording, capturing police engagement, there would be no accountability. Without a video, George Floyd would have just been another name in a police report.
Why is it our job to prove that police brutality exists?
With so much happening digitally and physically, it’s so easy to get lost in the mayhem. If you are interested in donating money, attending a protest, or taking action, I highly recommend inquiring about who started the effort. Many protests have unfortunately been organized without the main Black Lives Matter organization or any other Black voices. While in good intentions, to make lasting change, we must adjust the fundamental ways we have operated. We cannot support Black voices or create Black initiatives without their presence.
Here are some Black activist influencers I recommend:
Ericka Hart | Indya Moore | Kendrick Sampson | Patrisse Cullors | BLD PWR
With that said… I also published a new Yellow Glitter podcast episode this week.
I sat down with Kalaya’an Mendoza of Across Front Lines to talk about activism and solidarity. In this episode, we touch on digital vs. physical activism, the common pitfalls for those attending their first protest, addressing racism in the Asian community, and so much more. I took away so much from this conversation, especially relevant for this time.
You can listen to Yellow Glitter on: Apple Podcast | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Tune In | iHeartRadio | Overcast | Spotify
Next Sunday, I am also hosting a digital support group at 6:00pm ET for queer Asians. We will be chatting about race and pride.
Take care.
Be well.
Black lives matter.
The future with COVID
Arik Ben-Zvi (CEO of Breakwater Strategy) and Steven Weber (professor at UC Berkeley) predict four short-term scenarios for the future of our nation amidst COVID-19 to help prepare ourselves for the rest of this year. A really interesting perspective of how experts are preparing for the future without knowing exactly what will happen.
Black lives matter around the world
In an act of solidarity, marches are taking place all around the world.
Seeing the photos of Asians marching really made me emotional.
Rich lies
Kylie Jenner is no longer the youngest self-made billionaire. (Using fake tax returns and testimonies, Kylie and her mom, Kris Jenner, were able to fabricate her company’s valuation.)
A little bit of care
If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious check out this digital deck of care cards with suggestions on how to uplift your everyday.
As always, thanks for reading!
P.S. If you enjoyed this, share or sign up here: mindfulmoments.substack.com
Anything else? You can always hit "reply" to email me directly. 💌
Have a beautiful day!
Metta (loving-kindness),
Steven
Yellow Glitter Podcast | IG | YT | FB | TW | StevenWakabayashi.com