I can’t believe I’m writing this post right now… because I honestly can’t believe this is still an issue in the society we live in. I’ve had a hard time articulating and expressing my thoughts around this subject because I know that my words are not enough. I’ve teared up so much this week reading countless stories that my own friends have had to go through. It’s not okay to be treated different.
I know that times have been tough for so many of us recently (myself included) and I hope that my platform’s and blog continue to encourage you, instill hope, and give you a positive place to escape when you need it the most. But the truth is… life is not always pretty and pink and filled with unicorns, rainbows and tea parties (as much as I wish it was). It’s not a perfectly edited photo or curated feed.
I don’t share politics or other touchy subjects on any of my platform’s but to me, this isn’t a political issue. This is a moral issue and I can’t, in good conscious, sit back watching this happen right before my eyes to people I care about. My heart breaks thinking about what the reality of our world looks like right now and I feel like as someone that has a platform, it’s my responsibility to share the hard stuff, the real stuff, even if it’s not “on brand… because it’s the right thing to do and I truly want to be part of the change. It makes me physically ill to see this unfold and know that racism still exists in our society – it’s not okay. History keeps repeating itself because not enough is being done. No one should be made to feel threatened, afraid or less than due to how they look. No one should be called names or receive hurtful comments because of how they were born.
I held off on saying anything because I just couldn’t find the right words to express how I felt. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing but I know that you all know my heart, my intentions and know that I try to be a beacon of positivity, love and light both online and offline. We have to do better and I hope that out of this horrific situation comes change, justice, education and action. I truly hope this bring us together as a society of equals and I hope that this is the revolution that changes history.
This week, I decided to forgo posting on many of my platforms. Not to mute myself or be silent or to follow a trend but rather as a personal choice and in trying my best to navigate a delicate situation. I was shocked by what a lot of people had to say this week about how they’ve been treated in the past (and currently) and it broke my heart into a million pieces. I knew there was a problem, but I didn’t realize the scale of it and how it personally affected a lot of my friends. I have been spending time doing research about the issue at hand, actively listening to their stories and learning about what I can do better. I’ve struggled with knowing what to say, what not to say, what to post, what not to post, whether I posting too much or too little? And to be honest, there are so many opinions out there specifying “right way” to share. But I think that this is personal and it shouldn’t come from a place of validation but rather, authenticity and truly wanting to make a change. We live in a time where posting on social media becomes the basis for the extent of work being done. Sharing screenshots and receipts is amazing if it comes from the heart but not everyone is able to financially donate, especially right now as many of us have lost our jobs but this doesn’t mean that we don’t care and we aren’t actively doing our part offline. I have tried to keep things as authentic and genuine as possible and I know that for some, it may not seem like enough but I promise you that I am committed to change and those of you that know me, know my heart and my intentions. And I want to reiterate that this post is not about me but rather the action I will be taking as a human being and the responsibility that I have as someone that has a platform. So while I may not be posting about this online every single day of my life in the future, please know that there is still work being done behind closed doors.
For me, it’s not enough to just post a pretty picture so I will be taking action today, tomorrow, and everyday. I recognize that this is not an issue that will be changed overnight but I also don’t feel like true change is going to come from a few days or weeks of awareness surrounding this. While it’s a start and I think that’s incredible to see so many people come together for this cause and their willingness to help, to be honest, I feel the real help comes from behind closed doors. It’s having those tough conversations with others and educating them on this. It’s standing for others that are not being treated equally. It’s supporting businesses and causes close to your heart after all of this is over. It’s doing the right thing when no one is around to acknowledge it. It’s a work in progress that eventually becomes part of your everyday life and who you are as a person.
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How I Will Be Contributing to the BLM Movement
I will continue to educate myself.
I’ve been reading a lot of articles and personal stories this week but I’ve also got a list of books and podcasts that I’d like to check out as well so I can continue to educate mself.
I will continue to be an advocate.
Morality and doing the right have always been very important to me but I do recognize that I haven’t done enough in this community in the past. Moving forward, I’ll channel this into not just this cause but all causes for equality.
I will have tough conversations.
This week has brought about A LOT of conversation between myself and many others. I have discussed this with my husband every single evening and we talk about the things that we can do to actively help. And yesterday, I had a conversation with the student I tutor. We talked about everything going on and what he can do to advocate as he grows into an adult. I will continue to have these conversations and one day, when I have my own children, I will have this conversation with them as well and show them how they actively support always.
I will continue to support businesses and creators (local, national and worldwide).
Through this, I have actually found many, many businesses that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. And I’ve already got a wishlist a mile long. 🙂 Regarding creators – I did start a series a while back sharing accounts I loved but I stopped because I got overwhelmed. I shared creators regardless of their background or what they looked like but instead because I thought my followers would love their style and what they had to offer (which they did!). I want to incorporate more of this.
I will be voting and signing petitions for causes I believe in.
Change really does happen with numbers and I want to be a part of that.
I will hold brand partners to a higher standard.
As an influencer, I do recognize that this is a problem in the industry and I just don’t understand it. I won’t name names but I have already reached out to one platform in particular that doesn’t show enough exclusivity in their content. The same types of people are shared over and over and the diversity of size and race has always been an issue and this has been addressed many times. They have recently made a statement that they will change and I really hope this sticks because I think that a lot of people will be holding them accountable moving forward.
I know that a lot of you have similar thoughts about what to do and I want you to know that you don’t have to move mountains or empty your savings account without having the means to help make a change. The little changes that you make in your life and behind closed doors all contribute to making a difference. It’s more about being pro-active than reactive and that looks different to all of us <3
For more information on donations and petitions, please go here. My friend Stacey also has a great blog post about how you can be ally (from the perspective of a mom of mixed children) – you can read that here.
Sending love
xo
