Here we are in the middle of a PANDAMIC and for the last couple of weeks Black people have been trending on social media, taking over the headlines on the news, and marching on the streets in the name of Ahmad Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and the countless others that have died while simply being Black. Here is the thing, the world will have you believing that it is our people (Black people) out there doing all the looting, burning up, and disrupting society.  It is true, some of us are out there looting, destroying, and reacting negatively. It is true, some of us are tired of being peaceful, tired of taking a knee, tired of sitting in hospitals that refuse to acknowledge our voices and our pain. Some of us are tired of watching Black women die while giving birth or after giving birth and some of us are clapping back in whatever way he or she feels like clapping back. With that said, the reality is, Black folks do not stand alone in clapping back, or in the destruction of property and the looting. For example, where we are from in Sunny San Diego, CA, Black people are not orchestrating the violence, but are fiercely behind the scenes of peacefully making change. I normally do not condone violence, and I would not necessarily react with stealing, however, I stand with my people in the question of,

Are buildings and things more important than the blood that was shed in the name of fear or hatred?

Do Black Lives actually matter in America?

I stand with my people in asking how long do we march peacefully down the streets? I stand with my people when asking what society can do to really ignite change. I am asking, White America, non-Black folk, and Black folk that do not see the real issue. What is the real issue? We are dealing with hatred that stems from a system that has generationally hated us. What do I mean by generational hate?  Black lives have been taken from us through murder, enslavement, through being thrown in jail for low level crimes, and through poverty since the beginning of time.

What can you do as a Black teen, or Black girl?

What can our alleys do (people that do not share our struggle, but love and stand with us)?  There are many things that can be done, but here are 4 things that can be done right now!

1. GET EDUCATED. Below, I will list a series of books that will educate you, your family, and your friends on who we are as Black people, what our struggles have been, and

how we have gotten through in the past.  Books include but are not limited too…

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi   Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson (There is a movie based on this book)  So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo  Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates  Racism Without Racists by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva  The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race, edited by Jesmyn Ward. This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color, edited by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa

2. SPEAK OUT. When your friends are using derogatory names such as the N word, educate them on the history of the N word, and stop using the word yourself.
3. VOTE. Yes, I know, many of you are too young to vote, however encourage your parents, brothers and sisters, and family members to go out and use their voice.

Racism is systemic.

What does that mean? Systemic racism is simply the lack of equality (being equal) as it relates to income, wealth, employment, criminal justice, housing, health care, education, and political power etc.  It means that we must fight the powers that be with changing laws, supporting Black owned business, and take our money away from people that do not have our best interest at heart. The last way to stand with us and just as important as the rest is to,

4. Buy Black.I cannot tell you who to stop buying your favorite shoes, make-up, and or clothes from. However, YOU can, do the research yourself! In the last couple of years, I have decided to fund (buy from) places like FENTY for make-up, I buy books from B is from Black Girl, I support juicing companies like, The Write Juice, and Morelifeliquid, I support Black restaurants like Spoiled Vegans, I even got certified to be a life coach with a company called, Emerging Excellence, not to mention, I work with Detour FANCY, ALL BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES!!!!! Please feel free to look up all these Black Owned Business on Instagram. My support for our community runs way deeper than the couple of business I have mentioned. However, you would be reading all day if I listed all the companies and business, we as Black people in America and all over the world own.

YOU ARE OUR FUTURE!

I love you young ladies, and I pray you know YOU ARE OUR FUTURE. I pray you understand YOU ARE WORTHY, and I pray you understand WHAT YOU DO impacts our world’s future. I pray you know YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, and that you can make change wherever you are.

Much Love,

Nicole Chung