If you are truly for us, you’ll stand with us, you’ll help us and you’ll be a part of the change. If black lives matter to you you’ll do more than just post about it on social media. Posting a black screen, recycling posts with a lot of great knowledge to help understand black culture is not enough.

What’s the point of knowing all this information just to forget about it as soon as it goes away from your 24 hour post that lasts on your Instagram or Snapchat story? There isn’t one. Go to a protest, talk and have a serious uncomfortable conversation with a friend of a different race or ethnic background. Step outside of your comfort zone, get out of your little box and actually be a part of the change. 

You can’t be a part of the change if you don’t change yourself. You’re probably wondering, well how do I change myself? You have to have an understanding. Sadly a lot of schools don’t teach real black history as much as they need to. It’s evident that a lot of people are unaware how much black people actually did for society whether it was willingly or forced. 

Once you gather that understanding of black culture and feel comfortable enough to step into the movement, get into the movement for the right reason. Attend a protest, attend a diversity meeting, get involved in a club, something, anything. Be proactive. 

If the history books are being written right now which side of history would you want to be on? Would you want to be on the side that tried to oppress people just because of the color of their skin? Or would you want to be on the side that helped fight for the rights everyone deserves? I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t feel right knowing that I turned a blind eye to something that is wrong. 

Malcolm X once said in regards to human rights, “Human rights are something you were born with. Human rights are your God-given rights. Human rights are the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth. And any time any one violates your human rights, you can take them to the world court.”

Whether you believe in God or not, everyone is born with basic human rights and should have them but that’s not the case in America. Black and white people live in two different America’s. 

Malcolm X also said, “We can never get civil rights in America until our human rights are first restored. We will never be recognized as citizens there until we are first recognized as humans.”

With those powerful, truthful words Malcolm X spoke, it should open your eyes to how many black people feel because of how we are treated. It’s made very apparent from the side looks, the little shady comments, the misunderstanding, the judging, the stereotyping, the racism, the racial slurs the whole nine yards. 

After reading this column completely and you find it in your heart to do something about the racial injustice black people experience in this world we live in, I want to be the first to welcome you to the beginning of fighting the good fight for what’s right.