Dear White People

We have witnessed a series of sad and surprising events in the past few days. Due to these events, different questions have been asked by different people. Questions like why now or why this man? Let me try to answer this. Growing up in an African home, there was a particular statement my mother would use whenever I did something wrong.

She would say, “your cup will be full soon, and the consequences of your actions will overflow from it.” She definitely did not say that in English, so you can find a person who speaks Yoruba to translate. She was teaching me then that there will be times when my actions are not met with punishment immediately. However, the consequences could later pile up and explode in my face.

The riots and protests that have been happening recently perfectly describe the phrase, “they had it coming.” Now when people have been oppressed for too long, and the silence becomes unbearable, they start to push back. This is because they want to have a voice, and they need it to be heard.

I love my friends despite their skin color or what they identify with. If I say I love my friends and ignore the things that matter to them, then I am a liar. If a friend is hurt, the first thing to do would be to find out why. Then one searches for ways to help this friend; this part involves taking action. Reading a book on how to help a friend who is hurt is important but useless if no action is carried out.

This applies to other things. Now answer these questions truthfully:

• Are you a good friend who helps when a friend is in need?

• Are you just reading about how to solve the problem and having “important discussions”? This is important but

• Are you taking action?

You have to say their names and tell their stories. Take action today. This is the way they can get the justice they deserve.

Wondering what you can do to help make a change:

• Speak up and use the platforms you have to educate your network

• Donate to the groups out there dedicated to solving these issues.

• Most importantly, reflect and change if you are part of the problem.

Groups you can donate to include:

• The Minnesota Freedom Fund pays criminal and immigration bail for people who cannot afford it.

• The Brooklyn Bail Fund helps pay bail for those who cannot afford it.

• The Bail Project, whose goal is to mitigate incarceration rates through bail reform.

• The NAACP Legal Defense Fund advocates for racial justice.

• Communities United Against Police Brutality operates a hotline where people can report abuse and engage in political action against police brutality.

• Northstar Health Collective is an organization that provides health services and support at protests.

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. "

Desmond Tutu