Almost ten months later, Derek Chauvin is on trial for murdering George Floyd. While the verdict of the case is still unknown, activists have expressed their discontent with the overall state of the justice and police system within the U.S. The summer of 2020 saw nationwide protests and significant calls to action on social media, which have been unparalleled in modern times. Entire cities were shut down, streets blocked, and heavy social media content was shared for months. Posts full of resources and petitions circled everyone’s timelines, whether it be Instagram or Twitter. While BLM as a movement was founded around 2013, the culmination could be seen this past summer.
Despite the rise of the popularity of BLM as a movement within the popular consciousness, there is much to be left desired in terms of tangible changes. The initial desire to aid through social media posts and resources has turned stagnant. Posts detailing ways to help out people’s GoFundMe’s or educational resources are not circled as consistently anymore. The turnout to protests has dwindled to the point where many cities do not host protests anymore. The desire for re-educating ourselves and holding others accountable has not shown much progress. So, where do we go from here?
To keep the fire for justice alive, I believe we should think about why it’s essential to keep these issues at the forefront. It’s important to realize the systemic ways these issues creep into our everyday lives. While our actions cannot dismantle an entire system of injustice, these actions can reignite the fire that will bring about change through unity. In order to keep the movement strong, we must hold each other accountable and be truthful with reality. Often, we lose sight of what’s important because we don’t see it broadcasted on the news every couple of minutes. As well, we might feel like we’re too busy to contribute to others meaningfully. It’s okay to have these reflections, but instead, we should work towards the goal of justice and unity.
Instead of relying on social media as a tool for change, I believe we should seek alternative routes of building community. Actions such as volunteer work within your local community can highlight the issues that your area is currently facing and, in turn, highlight the ways that you can help. It’s important to work locally and then grow out your help on a broader scale. As well, mutual aid as a support system is something that many should look into if they haven’t already. While we may not all be wealthy enough to contribute constantly, we can try to help in alternative ways. Everyone always has something they can contribute to others’ situations, which propels the movement forward. By building community, we divert from traditional systems of control and aggression. Instead, we lean into a future where these systems do not constantly harm BIPOC communities, and instead, we provide care for those who have been ignored for too long.