Black. Lives. Matter.

Hey Friends,

This post is long overdue. When I ask myself what has taken me so long to write or comment on this the answer is, how do I speak on this topic? Here is the truth, I have other social media. And that social media are my “personal” pages. I post much more on those pages than I do on OakNMetal. That is because it is with my “real life” friends and family. I can post inside jokes, I can post pictures and stories with others and not worry about whether or not they want to be shown. Those pages are quite private. While I do share everything on my private social media that I post on OakNMetal pages, I do not share all that I post on my private pages with Oaks. Both social media pages are 100% me. One of them is just for my circle of people.

With that said, I post a lot about Black Lives Matter. I did it years ago, and I’ve been doing it again now. Some days I don’t shut up about it. Those posts are unfiltered. Those posts/feelings are raw. But I guess since I post so much about it on my private pages, I haven’t had the energy, or felt the need, to post about it OakNMetal. When I check myself, I realize how backwards that is. Posting/ranting/advocating on my private pages to my inner circle is all well and good but, will it really change anything? Well, it might. I might actually reach someone I know in real life and help them change their view or help them understand the systemic racism in this country. In addition, everyone “in” my life knows exactly how I feel on this subject. But the people on my public social media, on the social media I actually use to connect with people, they don’t know. That’s why I’m writing this today. So that every one of you now knows where I stand on this subject, how I feel. I do have a habit of rambling and providing a lot of context or background in all my blog and IG posts, but let me cut to the chase here with how I think and feel:

BLACK. LIVES. MATTER.

Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter.

This post is NOT an invitation for debate. There is NO debate on this matter. I will not allow or entertain one single comment that attempts to devalue and silence Black Lives Matter. I don’t want to read “All Lives Matter” I don’t want to read “Black Lives Matter, but…” I don’t want to read, “I agree with Black Lives Matter and protests, but the way they are protesting, these riots…” I WILL NOT READ OR ALLOW THAT.

We are allowed to protest. We are allowed to express our anger, our frustration…our pain. NO ONE has a right to tell us what is an acceptable form of protest.

Now, if you are someone that cannot wrap your head around these protests and riots, consider yourself privileged. Consider yourself lucky. And I understand how your privilege is not your fault. I do not want you to feel guilty for your privilege. Instead, I want you to open your mind, open your heart, and educate yourself. I want you to speak out against the injustice, in any way that you can right now. Do NOT condemn the protests and riots. Condemn the cause of the protests and riots. Research. Reach Out. Ask questions. It’s okay if you don’t have answers. It’s okay if you can’t fully process this bombardment of emotions and outbursts. But that is not a pass to ignore it. It is not a pass to close yourself off and stay in your bubble. You cannot do that. Well, you can. Just know that if you do, these protests and riots will only resurface with more force. And that will keep happening until there is real change.

This is where I will end. I will end with the truth that this country needs change. If you are tired of protesting/rioting, tired of reading and seeing it, then I hope you still have more fight left in you. You will need it. If you are scared of these protests and riots, then please reach out to someone that will educate you without judgment. Face the fear and get your hands dirty. Speak up. Speak up for change. Donate for change. If you are confused, educate yourself. Look out for one another. It is going to take so many more of us for change to happen. But it can happen. We can be the change. Again, speak up. Speak it into existence.

Black Lives Matter.