tawanna-nishi

Editorial: Pledge to Myself as a Black Person

While I have always been an advocate for our people, the death of George Floyd was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me (as it was for so many.)

George Floyd was when tired became done. Enough.

While the entire nation was first brought to our knees to mourn, subsequent action came swiftly and with a vengeance. My great fear is that the support and momentum will be swept away with the next trending topic. For me, fear always informs action. While I have plenty of thoughts on what the white community can and should do as anti-racist advocates, I first chose to look within. How can I, and we, as black people draw our line in the sand? Aside from protests and lobbying for law reform, how can we start from where we are at with what we have? Our greatest asset is ourselves. We all have power within us. Collectively, that power becomes a huge roar that forces change.

We. Will. Not. Move.

Nor should we.

A pact that you make with yourself is a sacred bond. What better agreement to have with oneself than one that honors your foundational beliefs and makes it clear where it is that you stand? Me? I stand for the betterment of my people. Period. While the list is not exhaustive, I feel that it is a good start.

What I Will No Longer Accept

  • Allowing people to determine how I experience and what I should do with my generational trauma
  • Hashtag Advocacy-advocacy that is purely for social media and is backed by zero personal action and accountability. Advocacy that frees white people from doing the work while managing to outwardly look like one of the woke good guys. Advocacy that ceases to exist when the next trending topic hits.
  • Whatever apology or action (insert Patty, Karen or corporation) that is offered simply because it is what they’re willing to give. If it’s not enough, it’s not enough. I reserve the right to determine what that is for me.
  • Allowing the white experience to be the defining experience that we are expected to utilize as a measure for our existence. Square pegs do not fit into round holes. Whatever “shape” we are is beautiful, unique and more than qualified to act as our barometer for excellence.
  • Disposal of our people-we are not a temporary fix or boost. We are constantly used and exploited for our thoughts, talents and creative strengths. We are treated as lab rats (literally and figuratively-see Tuskegee airmen) yet discarded when they extract what it is that they want. I demand our seat at the table.
  • Lack of representation of all of our skin shades in corporate America, media, fashion etc… inclusion matters. We have and will be here. Make the world look like US, instead of the other way around. Diversity is beautiful.
  • Less pay and benefits due to my double minority status as a black woman.
  • Less resources for our community.
  • Substandard healthcare.
  • Cultural appropriation in any form. If I see it, I say something. That may look as big as reaching out to the offending company or calling out a person in real life.
  • Allow them to be the judge of my intelligence. There is nothing that I have to prove and they do not get to say “when.” They are not the judge and executor of my worth.
  • Being placed as the default “black experience” educator for white friends and acquaintances. Our history and pain cannot be encompassed into one conversation, text or email. To expect that it can, is an insult. To expect that I have the space, energy or desire to attempt to unpack our experience to you is entitlement. I (we) owe nothing that we do not wish to give.

What I Will No Longer Do

  • Allowing the white experience to determine what is acceptable and professional. While something may be “other” to the white experience, that does not equate to unprofessionalism.
  • Choose any aspect of my appearance for professional occasions with the goal of assimilation in mind i.e. straightening my hair, pale nail colors, muted clothing etc… My black is beautiful-naturally curly hair, bright nail color if I choose it that day, splash of color in my outfit and all.
  • Change my name on my resume; foregoing my Afrocentric first name in favor of my Eurocentric middle name in a bid to get my resume seen by the powers that be.
  • Prune my speech of all urban tone and inflection when engaging with a white person.
  • Remain silent to help keep the status quo and stay “one of the good ones” to white people in power.
  • Accept non-racism as anti-racism. If you are not an ardent advocate, supporter and anti-racist I will no longer interact with you.

What I Promise to Always Be

  • Change agent
  • Advocate
  • Spokesperson
  • Supporter
  • Warrior
  • Leader

All dedicated to and for the good and forward movement of my people.

Imagine what change can be made if we all draw our proverbial lines in the sand. I invite you all to make your pledge and make your difference today. Only together can we collectively be the change we NEED to see.

Tawanna Nishi

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