It’s been almost a full year since George Floyd was murdered, in broad daylight, in front of his community, by an officer of the law. Today justice was served, or at least was starting to be served, as the jury convicted his murderer on all three counts. I watched, as millions of others did, in the safety of my home. I saw thousands of people crying and being emotionally overwhelmed once the verdict was issued. I, myself, was overcome with a dizzying array of feelings as I heard the judge call out each count. But one thought continued to echo in my mind as tears welded up in my eyes. We can’t stop here. We cannot let off the gas.  

So how do we keep this momentum. How do we continue to demand for justice and for people to be held accountable for their actions? The answer is long and it does not come from people like me. It comes from those who are affected by this everyday of their lives. For me this is an issue I dabble in. I am able to insert myself and remove myself from it at a moments notice. That is my privilege. Despite this knowledge I still believe that I am an ally. But what does that mean?

Last summer, after George Floyd was murdered, it was the “it” thing to do to post on social media that Black Lives Mattered. Companies felt the need to make empty statements showing their support, because it benefited them. Every white person I knew felt the need, myself included, to show that we were not the bad ones. That we believed they mattered. But yet we did little to back it up. We showed up to rallies with our signs, and our cute outfits, and took selfies. It was the popular thing to do. Then it faded from so many peoples feeds that it was almost forgotten about. Meanwhile, Black Americans were still fighting the fight to be seen as equal. Even though “Allies” would show up to the protests, many times they wouldn’t listen to what the movement needed from us.

“I need you to put your white bodies in front of us so that they cannot silence our voice.”

I’m reminded by the march in Selma. The pictures that came from it. The downright inhuman actions of the police towards individuals that just wanted to be seen as human. This was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement as these images we plastered on the front pages of newspapers across the country. “Good” white people were horrified. This is where the political capital shifted to a place where politicians had to take action if they were to stay in power. Not because black people were hurt, no there had been too many other situations in which that was the case, yet there was no action. The difference was that “Good” white people now demanded action. They became involved.

I will never forget the words that were told to me by a very close friend who has had to live with the real America their entire life. They said, “Mike, it’s not time for us to do something. It’s time for y’all to do something. We have been at it our entire lives. For you this is an uncomfortable conversation regarding race. For me, it’s Tuesday.”

We cannot call ourselves Allies without actions backing it up. Words are empty, and too easy to say. Actions will produce change. I struggled for awhile to identify how I could help the movement, as I knew I shouldn’t be on the front-lines. During this time, I struggled with whether I was a true ally, or just a fair weathered friend. Today I know I am an ally. This is because I take action to support the movement. I play to my strengths. But most of all I listen. Because I truly believe that Black lives matter. I also know that there is not much evidence that my country feels the same.

So, with that said. Are you an Ally? Or, do you just like feeling like one of the good guys? Are you backing up that Social Media flair with action, or is it just fluff so that you can sleep easier at night? Do you think this fight is over because one murder is behind bars? Or, are you willing to accept that this fight is only just beginning?

The best advice I can give someone regarding these questions, is to look for the ones that make you uncomfortable. Now reflect on why the feeling came up, and be honest with yourself. If you don’t know how to help, know that there are hundreds of thousands of people that are willing to help you find that answer. All you have to do is listen.