By: Eman Fatima
After the murder of George Floyd on 25th of May 2020, by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, a series of protests against police brutality and racism broke out, which have now spread both within the US and internationally. Ranging from peaceful demonstrations to full-scale riots, it’s clear people have decided only through drastic action will they be able to have a chance at being heard.
Since then, it's not uncommon to see family, friends, acquaintances sharing posts talking about the Black Lives Matter movement and its protests in America and other parts of the world. It's also not uncommon to see posts asking us why we care so much about what’s happening in other countries and not our own country Pakistan.
If you look past those questions, it’s also the people that will tell you you’re bringing shame to the name of your nation if you criticize affairs of the country, yet when you decide to call out another's country’s fault, you need to look back at your own before pointing fingers. I need to understand if these individuals genuinely care about any of the problems, or do they just want everyone to live ignorantly because they may benefit from it?
Why, I ask, why can’t all of these issues exist and be recognized together for the adverse effects they bring to their respective communities? Why do we struggle to accept that voicing support for one cause does not mean we are trying to bury the second one? Because it's a long time running tactic, trying to change the subject by bringing up another issue and justifying the negativity brought about by both like things that happen everywhere and need to be accepted as a part of our lives.
Dividing your support between causes doesn’t imply that you start believing problem A was more important than problem B, and now you’ll dedicate your time to problem A only. It means you recognize we are currently facing many problems and all of them require us to show our support for one another. It means coming together to stand up for values you hold close, to recognize harmful systems that have particular targets, and to give voices instead of speak over or speak for.
It’s also sad to see that Pakistanis think that this movement is of zero concern to us because “we’re not black, we’re brown”. The consolation you’ve given yourself that being a slightly lighter shade has kept you from being the bottom of the barrel in these times is all that’s wrong with your point of view. Being a person of color, you should be able to understand better that we have more things in common than those that separate us. No one should have to go through what black people go through, and I refuse to let it pass on the excuse of well that’s how it’s always been. Your worshipping-the-white-man complex is keeping you from admitting that the racism in these cases is undeniably wrong and unacceptable in a world where we pride ourselves on having progressed so much.
Be fully aware that you could’ve just as easily been George Floyd if you weren’t white-passing. Be fully aware that the current situation was brought about by the death of George Floyd as well as years of police brutality, racist politicians, mass incarceration, and a racist justice system to name a few things. Be fully aware that your “non-racist” stance is harmful because, in these times, silence is compliance with the occurring violence.
Here's what you can do to help:
Official logo for the Black Lives Matter Movement
Comments