For Black history month, we’ve been talking about the effects of colonization on Black people. You can read all four posts here. Although it’s the last day of February, we don’t have to stop here, let’s continue the conversation with friends and family.
Since we’ve talked about the problem, it makes sense to discuss what we can do about it. As I stated in my last post,
“I believe we, as marginalized individuals and groups are already breaking the chains of oppression, recognizing our worth, learning to love ourselves and each other, and building partnerships together.”
There are various levels in which to intervene. There is the individual level, communal level, social level, governmental level, national level, global level and many in-between. I can’t address all of these but below are a few suggestions on what we can do within ourselves and with our communities to bring about positive change from the effects of colonization.
- Learn your history. As I wrote these posts, it was sad noticing that I wasn’t taught many of these things through all my years in classrooms. I had to go find the information on my own. We need to break the cycle of ignorance to our future generations. Technology makes this easy in today’s age, but that requires us to use it wisely. Learn your history and teach it to your kids so they can understand the truth. Knowing our history helps us understand how we got here and can help us figure out what we need to do move forward. Do your research! That means going beyond popular media and common class history books.
- Notice, feel, and reflect. I’m sure reading some of this made you angry, sad, raised some other emotions or thoughts. Maybe you recognized how you experience internalized oppression. As I wrote, I could relate to the question, “Do you hold back from speaking up in meetings because you don’t think your contribution is important even when you have valuable insight into a problem?” Yes, I do and I’m working on it. What about you? Think through how you have been affected by your history. And allow yourself to feel whatever emotions come up. You must feel to be able to deal and to eventually heal. Don’t shorten the process by ignoring what’s coming up. You might benefit from dialoguing with a friend or seeing a therapist to get some support.
- Forgive and do it again and again. This is a big one! Some people think forgiveness is for the weak and not forgiving is maintaining their dignity and honoring their ancestors. Our bodies tell us otherwise. Unforgiveness has been likened to drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. It keeps you from living the full life you want to live. Unforgiveness doesn’t hurt the person who did the wrong, it hurts you. It slowly rots your soul eating at your health. This is not to say forgiveness is easy, that’s why I said, “do it again and again.” It is a continuous process. Be patient with yourself but CHOOSE to forgive.
- Decide what you are going to do and DO IT. Many of us grew up in cultures where we were told what to do and respecting our elders was (and is) important. At the same time, we each have something in us that as an individual, we feel drawn to do. It can be a struggle choosing a different route from our parents, authorities, communities, and even our own expectations. But there comes a time when we have to decide what we are going to do. This can be a change in your outlook, change in the way you treat people (hopefully for the better), change in your personal style, change in your profession, starting that project you’ve been visualizing… you know your thing. We do have choice and freewill. And you are the only one that will live with yourself for the rest of your life. So take the leap and go for it!
- Be an advocate or take a stand. You may think of this as meaning you have to wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt and hold a poster and go for the next march. You can do that if you like, but you don’t have to. You can be an advocate in small ways such as speaking up at work when you have a consideration to voice or pointing out when a decision won’t benefit the intern, cleaning staff, or the minority group. You can take a stand by not being a part of the gossip in your class, work place, or community. You can choose not to join in when people make jokes at the expense of someone else. You can call out discrimination when you see it and you can choose not to benefit from other people’s misfortune. Breaking some of these patterns can be hard but it’s the little things that become big things in the end.
- Join a community or be more active in yours. You don’t have to go through this journey alone. Join a group (if you aren’t already part of one) with like-minded people or with people who can be assets or allies. Healing from the wounds of being marginalized can occur through discussion as long as everyone is respectful and can keep confidentiality. It may be necessary to create some ground rules and have a focus for your time together. Are you all meeting to discuss your challenges, to educate each other, to create solutions? Any of these types of groups can be beneficial, but be clear about what you want to accomplish together.
- Celebrate YOU and celebrate your culture. We’ve come a long way my people. Although the goal of colonization was to break our back bone and destroy us, we survived and are thriving. Celebrate who you have become and celebrate the rich culture we have.
- Let Us Unite. Individually, we can do good things. Together, we can do amazing things. We tend to think of ourselves as Africans separate from African Americans, separate from Carribeans, etc… all black groups somewhat divided. Although we are getting better, there are still noticeable divisions between us by how we think and talk about each other, how we do business, etc. Part of the effects of colonization was division, divide and conquer. But we are all from the same place. While we are divided as a people, the world looks at us as Black people. So let’s work better together. Let’s listen to each other, let’s invite each other into our worlds so we can understand each other.
