What are you and your community doing to support Black Lives Matter #BLM?

[AlphaSays]

Black Live Matters is an International social movement for human rights founded in the United States in 2013 by three phenomenal women Opal Tometi, a Nigerian-American human rights activist, writer, strategist, and community organizer, Alicia Garza, American civil rights activist and writer, and Patrisse Cullors, American artist and activist, co-founders of BLM to campaign against the violence and systemic racism towards black people.

The death of George Floyd, African-American by police officers during an arrest in Minneapolis, the USA on May 25, 2020, sparked Black Lives Matter campaign to stop racism and violence against black people in America and rapidly spread across Europe and other parts of the world.

I am a Local Guide from The Gambia, living in Famagusta, Cyprus (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also known as TRNC / KKTC). In support of black lives matter, solidarity to the black communities and raising awareness, my university Eastern Mediterranean University approved a peaceful protest which after VOIS Cyprus launched a survey to evaluate racism in North Cyprus. Voices of International Students (VOIS) is a non-profit organization which aims to bring to light the problems such as institutional discrimination, gender-based violence and harassment, unfair labour condition, racism, housing difficulties, and issues related to mental health faced by international students in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. I was selected early November 2019 as a member of the institutional discrimination committee after applying to be part of the team. I strongly believe I can contribute in VOIS missions by contributing towards adding value since I have been successfully leading people my entire school life (Student Council leader, several leadership positions in both school and community club organizations).

The peaceful protest took place on Wednesday, 10th June 2020 at the university, where the university Reactor, Senior staff, Professors, Students and citizens of KKTC joined the march. VOIS team presented the online survey results which state about 88.2% of respondents have been victims of racism. 52.6% of the racial discrimination happened on campus and 40% happened off-campus, 81.2% agreed that it’s a serious problem and needs to be addressed. I as Local Guide, I have faced a series of racial discrimination while trying to add local guides business on Google Maps, knowing that it’s good for their business and the community. Also reaching out to Local Guides here has been almost impossible due to some of these reasons. However, I will never give up, and to date, I continue to support by contributing to Maps as much as I can. This was a beautiful protest, felt the energy as I chant BLM with the protesters on a minute video, love and support throughout, I applaud VOIS and my university for such outstanding initiative to voice many voiceless. I am certain it will bring positive change!

I have created a list of African Businesses in Magsua my city and reached out to many black-owned businesses to help them get their listing on Maps and by the end of July/August, I should be done.

Racism/discrimination is a global pandemic and we all need to support the cause by increasing awareness and educating others. I kindly urge you all to please join a meetup I’m hosting on Saturday 20th June 2020 to increase awareness on racism and talk about things that matters also share how we have been helping communities in times of such crisis.

Focusing on the Big Picture Meetuphttps://youtu.be/G90nv-_RFnw

[PaulPavlinovich]

Thank you for posting this @AlphaSays this is a conversation we all need to have. There are no wrong and right approaches. Only silence is wrong. I can’t speak for black people but I can speak for me and I can be an ally. I can add my voice. I can use my power. I was raised to be a racist. I was born into a family descended from the first fleet colonial past of Australia. I’m descended from the people who started the black indigenous genocide in Australia. That’s only one side, I’m also descended from an immigrant who is one of only two people from my entire family line to escape from racism and Jewish persecution in The Holocaust.

I’m not perfect, far from it. Its a lot to overcome your upbringing. My mother taught me you be afraid of everyone who doesn’t look like me.

Do you know what’s caused me to change? To think differently? This is going to sound contrite and corny but I mean it sincerely. Its this wonderful world of Local Guides. Through my interactions with people from all over the world especially live in person at Connect I’ve learnt what our popularists don’t want me to know. I’ve learnt to not only accept as equals but also to love my sister’s and brothers.

I’ve learnt that silence about racism is racism. I’ve learnt to stand up and say it.

Many people are scared of change. Currently in most places in the world the balance of economic richness sits with people like me, old white people. I know for example that if you and I had the same job and wanted to buy the same house and went to the same bank for the loan I would be more likely to get it then you and that is wrong.

If I need to have less for you to have more so be it. The reality is different, the only thing I have to give up is my mindset. No one is going to take my house and give it to you. Once enough people like me give up the mindset that white people are better then everyone else has the opportunity to uplift and take their rightful place in this world.

Me? I fight locally using my voice and my platform. I’ve got a lot of active followers and I know my voice here on Connect carries because people do respect my opinion. That’s called privilege. I think I’ve earned my position but it’s still privilege and I understand and accept that. I use that to carry a message… A really simple message…

#blacklivesmatter

[Nuhuu]

Hi @AlphaSays ,

You’re doing great! Thanks for brining this up. As a black descend, I always support for our black brothers and sisters to be treated equally by voicing out too which I pray for the same for people of color.

I was born and raised in a black community though no protest marches were held. I have had a handful of discrimination experience over the scope of my projects and travels but that hasn’t made me profile people based on that sentiment. I always love and appreciate the diversity and i have made friends from different race from many parts of the world. I find it very interesting to learn about a different race and always appreciate that it is a huge and diverse subject and I have barely dipped my toe in the water haha.

The acceptance mindset requires a deeper exploration of others not just studying people based on looks, I believe we can all try that, it’s interesting.

Thanks again.

[Jesi]

You and your community are doing great things, @AlphaSays . I’m sure the protest will help change things for the better, as well as your useful list.

I have been reading, watching videos and informing myself about what black people face in the US for a long time, without understanding how can some people act that way and mistreat others so much without a care, especially in our decade, even though that doesn’t matter. I never knew what could I do to help, and honestly I’m still not sure and definitely feel that I’m not doing much.

Unfortunately, here in Argentina a lot of people think that BLM is only an US thing, and it’s not something we have to take part in or even give our opinions even though it’s so important.

I have been sharing info about the US and also about racism in my country and Latin America on my Instagram stories. That lead to conversations with another Latin American that was doing the same that even though the movement is for black people a lot of racism happens in our countries against indigenous people or darker skinned people, and they get treated similarly by cops and others to how black people are treated in the US, so we thought it was fair to use the day to fight all sort of racism considering how much there is in our region.

Argentina in particular doesn’t have as many black people as other countries, mostly because of the racism there was when slavery was abolished and the racism there still is, so they are a big minority that is treated unfairly and the way they are mistreated isn’t as visible as other groups. As I remember my history teacher telling us in high school, actually a lot of Argentines have black ancestry but everyone tried to hide it in the past and said it was just indigenous so now almost no one knows, and that shows how racist people used to be that made black people leave.

Despite that, I managed to find one organization for black people in my country, I have been sharing info from them as well as news I found of black people being mistreated here, and I’ve been trying to better ways to help. I hope to find enough info to create lists of businesses owned by black people and help more. I have been also signing petitions hoping it helps, and I do try to educate people when they don’t understand the situation or don’t think there is a problem.

Thank you for posting this, and despite the circumstances that made it happen, I’m glad Black Lives Matter is getting more attention.

[EmekaUlor]

@AlphaSays it’s a great advocacy you are doing out there. Creating awareness around tolerance is apt especially at this period in time.

I have been in the Civil Society for over 10 years advocating for various causes including racism.

As this BLM campaign got reignited, it also evokes the issue of nepotism. For example, Nigeria has a long running issue with the major tribes. Some feel marginalized and the civil war of 1960 which lasted for three years still hover around us.

In other parts of Africa, we also need advocacy against nepotism to avoid genocide as recorded in Rwanda.

So, my prayer is for all humans to see one another as one- humans!

Love or tolerance should be the key to end racism.

Thank you for enabling this conversation.

[AlphaSays]

@PaulPavlinovich I have come across so many amazing replies on connect but I have never seen anything like this.

What an informative touching, inspiring and educative reply. You are absolutely staying silent is part of the biggest challenge, as much as we don’t we want don’t admit and it’s not going to bring the change if we do. I am so pleased you touching on so many important racial and inbalance related in our communities.

Connect has been one of the best things to happened to me as well, met some of the nicest and impactful people in my life here including yourself, constantly sharing experience and educating us all. Thank you so much for adding your voice to this great cause, I believe many will learn from you which will contribute to some amount of awareness and change

[AlphaSays]

Thank you so much for your pleasant comment. to be honest I really didn’t what how racism was like until I started university in Cyprus last year because I was born and raised in a black community like you too also some of my childhood friends were white. I have always travelled around African countries and the first time I travelled beyond the continent was in Singapore and it’s just an amazing country where you can’t think if racism actually exists there.

When you work directly with people through projects and the rest you barely know it but then in some countries and the public areas is when all this happens. I have worked in a hotel for two years and some of the tourists are the best, I think not travelling at all and learning about diversity and other cultures also contributes. Let’s keep increasing awareness and educate others positively. Thanks again for supporting @Nuhuu

[PaulPavlinovich]

It takes time to fix a broken system. Our politicians, city and state managers need time to understand what is needed and make it happen. At least in democratic countries the best way to make it happen is to make it an election issue and hope the candidates carry through on any promises they make @AlphaSays

Paul

[Nuhuu]

Hello @AlphaSays ,

Thanks for this!

The good this is that everybody’s got a story. Now that you’re sharing up, I respect you for that. Cheers.

[AlphaSays]

@Jesi I have been seeing your posts and relentless efforts in increasing awareness and standing with the black community, we all can bring change with smiliest possibly contribution. It isn’t just Argentine where people think BLM is just a US thing, that includes many countries with a large black population even in many African countries.

In just less than a month since the protest started a lot of things have changed in many places including Cyprus here, which is a good thing and that is exactly what everyone is fighting for, change, inclusion, and no to discrimination. History played so much in this and till date many indigenous don’t want to embrace their identity as a black person, also it has a lot to do with struggles not everyone is ready to deal with. Thank you so much Jasi for adding your voice, your kind comments and my sincere apologies for the delayed response.

[AlphaSays]

Wow @EmekaUlor that is a lot of experience in advocacy for such great causes! Your work is indeed remarkable, and always inspiring to learn from you. Thank you for your kind words and also adding such insights.

I did research on Rwanda genocide mid-2019 as a school project and the advocacy needs to continue to avoid such from ever happening again. Politics is actually bringing a lot of tribalism in The Gambia recently and people are fighting so hard to put an end it because it’s lead so much nepotism which we should never allow to happen like you said to be one, love each other and be tolerant. It’s the only way to end discrimination and racism. My sincere apologies for the delayed reply.

Ameen, May all your prayers be answered!

[AlphaSays]

Again, I completely agree with you @PaulPavlinovich , to fix the broken system will certainly take time but hopefully with time. Regarding democratic countries, election and accountability will certainly make candidates delivery to their promises but the big question is, how about countries without democracy?

[PaulPavlinovich]

It’s been a couple of hundred years in the flag ship democracy @AlphaSays and no action yet. I think the issues are universal and people like you and me can solve them by spreading pockets of acceptance and love for our fellow humans.

Paul

[ChinonsoOnukwugha]

WOW @AlphaSays ! I am thoroughly impressed by this post in regards to your advocacy through various platforms and means. You are truly a man of action, and I am proud of to see this.

I completely agree that “racism/discrimination is global pandemic” as most countries have a form of discrimination going on. This is a long marathon that must be constantly addressed, and I am glad that you are part of the institutional discrimination committee in Cyprus.

[RosyKohli]

@AlphaSays

For me all are equal ,from childhood we are taught no rich no poor we sit together eat in our Gurdware, we don’t different between white & black.

Yes we should support them to fight against Radiscim & discrimination whatever way we can do. Spread the message we are one & equal.

[AlphaSays]

Hey @ChinonsoOnukwugha Thank you so much for your pleasant reply, I am really honoured with your kind words.

Indeed, this year particularly added so much voice to ending racism and discrimination. VOIS Cyprus recently made a documentary which highlighted most of the issues international students face, you can check it on Youtube STUDENT (Full Movie) | English | VOIS Cyprus.

I have also been following the ENDSARS campaign in Nigeria and supporting as much as possible. It will be good if you can also share some info about that on connect. I believe Police brutality is also another pandemic.

[AlphaSays]

@RosyKohli It all starts from childhood, children always adapt to what they have been taught and they grew with the community qualities. I couldn’t have agreed more with what you said. Thank you so much @RosyKohli for your awsome comment.

[RosyKohli]

@AlphaSays

Sorry I didn’t mean that , I am sorry I will correct my statement. I mean to support you & your post . I am strictly against discrimination for me colour doesn’t matter, a person is known from your heart . I am proud of my all Nigerian lg friends they are good give so much respect I am feeling blessed please I sorry I you been hurt by my last line.

[AlphaSays]

@RosyKohli No Rosy! you didn’t say anything bad, please don’t apologies. It’s perfect

[RosyKohli]

@AlphaSays

I correct my last line of earlier post thanks for understanding, God bless you all. Hope for all fine in Nigeria.