Dear the America Josh Community,
As a white person myself, writing for an international audience, I find it difficult to know how to properly respond to what's happening in this country right now and what has been happening in this country for a long time. I don't always know what is right, helpful, and good.
If that sounds like you, that's ok, we can help each other, and our role is instead to listen, to learn, to support, to donate, to amplify the Black community, and to advocate for change in our communities.
To start down that path, the TESA Collective created this Black Lives Matter resource that gives practical ways to understand and to assist the movement including donation portals and international resources (because this issue is most certainly faced by many other countries too, including my home, Australia). Please take a moment today, and look through it when you can.
If you are a person of color then none of this is new, but I want you to know that I support you, and I can only imagine what you are struggling with right now. I will do my best to direct this community in the best possible manner to support you as well.
To those community members who are actively engaged in the protests, be sure to know your rights . Being a foreign citizen does carry additional risks for immigration and visas with police involvement but it's important to note that the vast majority of the protests are peaceful, and most attendees do not engage with the police at all.
And to all of you: You don't have to march and you don't have to go to a protest, but you do have to be informed, and you do have to stay open to learning.
Use your voice to amplify others'.
If you have questions, concerns, worries, or opinions, please do reach out. I'm not perfect when it comes to talking about these issues and I want to do better so please do let me know ([email protected]).
Be safe, and do good things.
#blacklivesmatter #indigenouslivesmatter
P.S. I have also listed a number of great resources, TV shows, movies, and more at americajosh.com/bored.
