June 2nd, 2020: PARIS, FRANCE.
We did it. We made history. We marched and protested. We were together as much as we are together for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 1998.
On June 2nd, 2020, 80 000 people marched against systemic racism, police brutality and
On June 2nd, 2020, 80 000 people marched for hope.
Friends reached out, showed up, donate, and support the cause. Some friends did not.
But I am AFRAID now…
I am afraid that this will fade out by next week, next month, next year. I am afraid that people who showed up will eventually stop talking about it or said that it is “over now” and “racism is not real in France anymore” like I am used to hear on French TV, radio and newspaper.
I am afraid that the thrill I have right now about what we have accomplished that day, will just going to be a sad memory, and things will go back to this surviving mode that we call life.
I think we are witnessing right now a MAJOR change for the United States of America, and I am full of hope for my black brothers and sisters. Their win will be my win. But what about FRANCE?
Like I said previously, we were 80 000 people who have said enough that day. However, the FRENCH institution as well as their accomplices (the media), just said to us, like we were 5 years-old children, that we were wrong to march…
Because in 2020 we are in a middle of a pandemic.
Oh yeah… This past week, I almost forgot that there still a pandemic who are killing black and brown people all over the OCCIDENT than anywhere in the world (leave Africa alone please, they are doing fine).
In other words, we reached the point that we are aware of COVID-19 are killing us all, but we know that the weigh of racism, silence and police brutality are way heavier than the pandemic itself.
It means that we cannot have the PRIVILEGE to stay home, safe and sound because we are NOT. And if you think one second that we had the choice to stay silent at home, know that you are a part of the problem.
I was just talking with a friend today and she asked me: Why white people posting the black square on Tuesday is not enough?
And that; that is my biggest fear.
The fact that people think that using 5 minutes of their time to post a black square will show their anti-racism. The fact that after they did this, they think that racism is over, and we will all be united and forever.
So, this is my answer to her and all the people who still did not get it:
If you don’t understand that being a black person living anywhere in the world means that we are feeling less and less safe everyday when one of us get killed and no one get arrested even if it has been recorded; then you didn’t understand what was about #BLACKOUTTUESDAY.
If you cannot see how the French government, French journalists, French TV hosts, French intellectuals keep minimized their own wrongdoing by, then you are the part of the PROBLEM.
If you are not aware of French history regarding the Caribbean community; why there is so much Antilleans who are working at the post office or at the hospital. Why there is African (from black or up north) on the French territory with a similar history of how and when they arrived here, you need to EDUCATE yourself on the question.
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE NOT EDUCATE YOURSELF.
So yes, I am afraid. But HOPE is still in my heart, otherwise I do not see the point of writing this or keep fighting for better days.
I could write a book, but today I just wrote a chapter.
Julie.
