Why we should care about #BlackLivesMatter
The incident that sparked the momentum of #BlackLivesMatter movement happened on the other side of the globe, and yet, young people in Bangladesh are hurt.
They are condensing complex information—institutionalised racism, how South Asians propagate it, cultural appropriation—using resources on Instagram and Facebook. A plethora of articles, podcasts, movies, and books, are being shared around as people have voluntarily begun to educate themselves and others. I see petitions and donation links up on everyone's bio, and we're even coming up with alternative ways to help. It's remarkable that the concept of racism, something many of us don't face directly, managed to infuriate us to this extent. It's important for many different reasons, and one of them is how this serves as a point of reflection.
Look around you, do you know someone from a minority group being denied their rights? Sexism, prejudice based on religion, colourism—human beings are judged and opportunities are withheld based on unfair criteria in schools, workplaces, and even in our homes. Dehumanising others based on an arbitrary factor isn't new. I believe many of us are guilty of doing it, some consciously and some unknowingly. Even if someone isn't directly partaking in discriminatory behaviour, staying neutral still makes one guilty.
This is a good opportunity to think about all those times you ridiculed someone because of their ethnicity, bullied boys for being "feminine", or made a sexist remark. I recently saw someone, who continues to use transphobic language to "roast" their friends, post a long note on how they've educated themselves on the history of the n-word. While it's great that so many of us are learning to be more sensitive, being selective with what you want to support is unethical and performative (and possibly bandwagoning). Being a tolerant and thoughtful person means finding all forms of discrimination abhorrent.
We need to figure out how to create positive changes in our own environment. Experiencing the BLM movement has equipped us with knowledge on how powerful and useful social media is. We raised funds just by streaming YouTube videos filled with ads, and learned about artists of colour at the same time. We're using our personal accounts as platforms to share and discuss relevant news. Conversations aren't limited to any age groups or news outlets, allowing us a diversity of opinions. Statistics and complicated concepts are presented in constructive formats like short videos or flashy posters. It's possible to create awareness on important issues with some well coordinated clicks of some buttons. This generation is now equipped to support local artists, to raise funds for RMG workers suffering from low incomes, and to stand against the injustices minority groups face.
We can't only limit ourselves to posting on social media once a while when it's trendy. We have to be active in real life as well. If you witness your friends having toxic locker room banter objectifying women, make sure you hold them accountable. If your parent uses a racial or religious slur, inform them on why they're wrong in doing so. I know it can be incredibly exhausting to get your points across but since we understand how social conditioning works, we have a responsibility to target and break down problematic mindsets. It may be difficult for us to participate in protests halfway across the world, but we can sure use it as a point of reflection from where we can start bringing positive change.
Aahir Mrittika likes to believe she's a Mohammadpur local, but she's actually a nerd. Catch her studying at mrittikaaahir@gmail.com