A poem on racism by Lauren Kim

With all the headlines and talk about anti-black racism, I have been doing my best to research, listen and discuss different perspectives with my friends, family and people online (that one was a slippery slope). I have always wanted to spread love, unity and equality and I love that technology has given us extra tools to do this. Social media can be such a beautiful thing to spread awareness and bring important topics to the frontlines but it can also be a disorienting and daunting instrument. With that being said, I feel conflicted about what to do, what to say and where to go with all of this information. The information I’ve gathered since being a young kid and someone yelling “chink” and being grossly sexualized “come be my china doll, you give me that yellow fever”. The information I’ve gathered since I found out my black friends fear for their lives and have to be explicitly conscious of how they behave as to not be wrongfully blamed for bad behaviour. The information I’ve gathered since years and years of being taught racism is bad, racism is bad, racism is bad. I had to ask myself, how come we are still here? In this time of 2020 where we KNOW it’s bad, but it’s still happening?

Interesting fact: My views on my stories have gone down by almost half since I started posting about anti-black racism. But in the same token, I’ve gotten more engagement and had the most wonderful conversations about anti-black racism and racism as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t about how popular my stories are. It’s just me (rhetorically) wondering why we are turning away from a problem that is so prevalent? Is it because my friends/ followers are racist? I don’t believe so. Is it because Thursdays and Fridays happen to be the dates that are the least busy for my social media? My insights say that could be the case. However, I assume it’s because a lot of people are overwhelmed by the information and perceptions that are out there. Even some people I know are temporarily disconnecting their social media because of all the confusion and negativity. It’s a heavy topic and something must be done. I’m working on it, friends, I’m trying. And I do stand with my black community. But for now, in this moment... this is how it all feels like.

Support - By Lauren Kim

Hey, you.
Support the black community
But this is not an opportunity
To profit or to boost your platform
Because that could confuse or misinform

Oh, and support the aboriginals too
(they’ve got it worst than me and you)
But black lives is what matters right now
Research when to help and how

But don’t ask a black person because they need their space
Verify information so it’s not out of place
But only by official organizations
And not by random people’s creations
And make sure if they do, they’re black
Because people will go back and back
Into picking apart everything you said
Who said it, why they did it and if it’s the message they want to spread

Also, listen to the black people in the community
All that matters is the unity
Share information but not obnoxiously
It can be rejected or taken as camaraderie
Do something and let others know so they can do it too
But also do it quietly so it won’t be misconstrued

Take your words and get offline
You should be living this all the time
Double check what others are sayin’
And don’t believe everyone who wants to weigh in

Talk to people about anti black racism
And ignore the haters and harsh criticism
But don’t just talk to the people who agree
And don’t just do it because it’s trendy

Fundraise money for black organizations
But don’t just go looking for collaborations
It might seem like a money grab
Or interpreted as a ploy to nab

Support black businesses but also support all businesses too
Hey, stop making this about all about you

Continue your activism and support
But make sure you follow those headlines to court

Say something, please DO something, please
But don’t be obnoxious so everyone sees

Don’t announce it to the public, just do it and live it
But don’t forget to tell people how to get involved with it

Say something but don’t say too much and don’t say too little
And say it in the right way as to not diminish or belittle

Don’t refrain from saying anything at all
But if you do say something, make sure you say it all
Make sure it’s well-said or written out
But not if you’re doing it for the hype and the clout
Because everyone will pick it apart
Then we will be right back to the start
Because of this mindset, that view you forgot
But don’t ask a black person because they’re dealing with a lot

Okay, okay, let me get this straight
You want me to come and participate
But do this, don’t do that and do more but not over the top
It’s not our battle to fight but together we must stop
So talk, donate, share, but don’t get caught up in the chatter
I’m beginning to wonder if what I support will even matter