Community Empowerment

In the last few weeks a lot has shifted in me with the Black Lives Matter movement around the world. I was surprised by the matters arising here in the UK and the actions and reactions on Social Media by both sides of the argument. The propaganda being generated by the media is most overwhelming and hasn’t helped the matter in my opinion.

Racism is real, marginalisation is real, for too long black lives have been placed as second class citizens – but let’s not settle on that.

A black man has made it to the White House – stayed in for two full terms, so now we must push forward knowing that we have a chance – let us now waste the sacrifices that were made for us by our ancestors. We can look at the problems or we can be the solutions. I choose to be the solution – I choose to see the opportunities, not being blindsided to the opposition, but to focus on what is in my hands, and what I can do to pave the way for the generation coming after me.

My continuous contribution to this conversation is as follows: Challenge your examined beliefs. Do not be imprisoned by your own ignorance. Freedom is found in self awareness.

I’m looking to positively affect as many black lives around me as possible, educate as many as possible on what Cultural Diversity, Equality and Inclusion really means. It is not a tick box exercise. We cannot celebrate diversity but not acknowledge the disparity that exists.  Creating or adjusting laws does not change people’s hearts. These issues can be deep rooted so seeking to change a person’s foundational beliefs about Race by imposing a new idea on them is a waste of time and quite frankly very unintelligent.

I choose affirmative action – I want to actively be involved in positive actions that change the narrative, change the reality – one black person at a time. What if we can change the status quo? What if we can change the narrative? What if? Actually scrap that! Why not!! Let us go in strong, get involved at a leadership level in our fields of expertise, in Politics, locally, nationally and internationally.