The last week has been full of tragedy. A pandemic, another death that never should have happened, the boiling over of the United States of America as city after city decides the time for change, is now.
The thing I cannot stop thinking about is the words that came out of George Floyd’s mouth as he lay begging for his life under another man’s knee.
He cried Mama.
My mama heart broke when I heard that. It broke again when I found out his mother has been dead for two years. He either was so terrified that his instinctual need for his mother rang out, the little boy he was screaming for help, or he knew his time was over and cried for her because he would be joining her soon.
Either way, he cried Mama and I think we all need to answer.
I am a white woman. I am privileged. I am in a mixed race marriage and have a mixed race child, but my life is protected and easy in so many ways. I try to stay open and learn. I try to use my privilege for good. I know my words are not the ones that need to be amplified right now. Black people’s voices need to be amplified.
He cried Mama.
All I can say is that my mama heart is breaking for our world’s children. For my black sisters and brothers who feel they have nothing left to lose and are righteously angry. I stand with mothers everywhere who fear for their children daily because of the danger they are in, in a world that judges them first for their skin.
My mama heart is answering. I don’t have the right words. I don’t know what they would be, but I cannot stay silent.
I am limited right now in what I can physically do to help anyone. It’s a pandemic, I am 9 months pregnant. But I can use my platform and my voice.
I can donate. Most of all, I can listen.
So here is my list of places you can donate if you feel your mama heart breaking. Here is a list of Instagram accounts I find teach me on the daily about my privilege. People that we should listen to. Voices that need to be heard far more than mine.
“You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn’t do anything to the object of its displeasure. So use that anger. You write it. You paint it. You dance it. You march it. You vote it. You do everything about it. You talk it. Never stop talking it.” – Maya Angelou
LISTEN:
R. Lum. R. aka Yung Tanjiro:
A fantastic musician with a message that always gets straight to the heart of things.
Rachel Elizabeth Cargle:
A teacher and storyteller who has taught me more about my privilege than almost any other. Sit and read and absorb. Then use your privilege and go forward.
The Conscious Kid:
This is a parenting page for those trying to raise children to be anti-racist. Owned and run by black and brown voices.
DONATE:
I love this graphic list of places to donate from @ellamosco on Instagram. However, Minnesota Freedom fund now suggests going straight to Black Visions Collective or Reclaim the Block. You can also go to the NAACP or ACLU as places to look to for more information on donating to help the cause. I know I am doing a combination.
He cried Mama.
I know I feel broken, but it’s not my time to sit in pain. It’s my time to sit and listen. Listen to those who have hurt for generation after generation. This is just one small segment of people I find helpful to listen to.
Who are you listening to? Have you checked on your family and friends that are black? Have you listened to their feelings lately? What places are you going to, to learn? Open your mama heart. He cried, Mama.
Well written. Thank you!
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