7 Cups Stands With #BlackLivesMatter
We at 7 Cups stand in solidarity with our Black mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, friends, partners, and community against racism and oppression. To our community members who have been impacted by this, we see you and extend our deepest sympathy to you and your loved ones. Please know that 7 Cups is a safe space for you, and we will continue to do our best to ensure that our platform remains a solid foundation for the giving and receiving of support during this extremely challenging year. We are a community that is stronger together, and we will strive together to overcome these hard times.
If you are interested in helping through donations, I found a few reputable links to check out. There are many, many more, (and if you're in an area where protesting is happening, donating locally is a great idea) but feel free to drop any links you have in the replies!
Support #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd Protesters in Atlanta
Louisville Community Bail Fund
https://northstarhealth.wordpress.com/about-us/
This will be my last reply to this thread! What aren't people understanding? It's not about all lives matter that goes without saying smh. I find it amazing how people have a full UNDERSTANDING over some stupid game of thrones plot or some stupid UNDERSTANDING over some Star Wars crap or Harry Potter but attempt to act like they don't UNDERSTAND about BLACK LIVES MATTER. And ANYONE born between 1950 to the year 2000 don't understand how racism is wrong or acts like it doesn't exist is full of crap! It's basically history repeating itself when people of color sat back and watched hopelessly while they couldn't stop from being hung chased down like rabbit dogs houses being set on fire being denied basic medical assistance etc we couldn't do anything about it! NOW white folks want to CRY because they feel like they are being overlooked? Like seriously? Racism will NEVER end because humans are born miserable and messed up! What needs to happen is people who dislike people of color should be given their own couple states where they never have to interact with people of color problem solved! I don't care who disagree nor I'm I getting into a debate over anything I've said.
@highlyintuition1
I totally agree with everything you said! Like you, I am baffled after what the entire world has gone through this past week, that there are still people who don't get what is going on, and that it needs to change!!!! We need to come together, we need to see all people as equal. Its not that difficult to do!
@highlyintuition1
I agree it's confusing especially here where people can see why All Lives Matter isn't the appropriate response to Black Lives Matter. I'm not sure that separating states into whites who are racist and everyone else is a good idea though. It's not just whites who hold the All lives matter belief, or resentment for BLM. I personally have been more heartbroken by angry POC saying this but I'm trying to understand the frustration and beliefs. And, it would be taking us backwards in time, I think. Plus how would children of racists ever learn that what their parents preach isn't right? They'd be in an echo chamber. I'm not making excuses for racists here. I just don't think shipping them to their own states is gonna make them confront their bigotry and fears. Those who are stubborn end up showing who they really are and then face consequences through social media when they finally lash out publicly. It's really hard to see people trying to erase an important movement for whatever reason. I hope the anger we have can be channeled into something powerful and great. Momentum has gone down a bit, I think some are taking breaks, but at the end of the day this is a fight for a basic human right.
I'm not American but as an outsider looking in there is an advantage. I'm able to see the issue without any political affiliation and with getting reports from both sides.
Injustice aggrevates me to my core, I hate it that it's all too common.
Ill say one thing, specifically to Americans, you've to be careful of only listening to news stations that only promote one side. That's with emphasis on stations as fox news. Racism is learnt and it's reaffirmed by what you surround yourself with. Just be humble and honest with your thoughts, step back and have a sit down with a person who is different, listen to their story, question them.
There is a lot of propaganda that'll use statistics and talking points to control your thoughts but remember that at the root of things we're all insignificant and different but still we've the same emotions, etc. Keep ya head on. I don't think all is lost because I've seen whites and other non-blacks supporting for practical change. The younger generation too have mingled with each other that they'll know better too.
I read all the posts in this thread and have mixed emotions about them. I have this thought in my mind.
# Black LivesMatter , yes it certainly does. But , the black community has equal responsibility in making their Lives matters. How has their lives evolved over the years ? The Black community started from the scratch . They were brought into a foreign country and had to fight for their way up, for respect , recognition and equal rights. They achieved it decades ago. From then on , every single one of them has the responsibility to contribute to their growth. There have been and still are many remarkable black people who have achieved and contributed abundantly and richly in every aspect possible , But sadly, there are also many black people who are actively involved in social ills. Yes….. others are also involved in social ills but Why are the Blacks more commonly associated with Social ills ? Lack of education ? Lack of opportunities ? Lack of ability? Lack of will ? Stuck in a social setting ? Its easy to blame others but that would not solve the problem. It might make the surface issue disappear but the underlying concern will still be there, just waiting to erupt when another incident occurs. Mr George Floyd was a suspect who, very sadly , bless his soul, died in the hands of policemen who lacked compassion and respect. Just as much as the policemens behaviour needed to be viewed / punished/stopped, The reality that this black man could be a criminal /an addict , also needs to be acknowledge and addressed .
# Black LivesMatter , is about making changes …. The Nations leaders, policymakers, law enforcers , the public. Maybe Amend policies to recognise the blacks as a special community and reserve places/opportunities for education, jobs and business ventures . Give them chances to upgrade their lives , Improve their socioeconomic standing . Poverty breeds .. anger, frustration, desperation , envy, pain , misery , hopelessness .
Just as much as everyone else , The Black community too, has to reflect and figure out how they can change , improve their lives individually, as a family and as a community . What you do today will be the seed you sow for your children and your future generation.
@faithlove1111
A lot of what you say I agree with. And it is sensible that black people do consider how they treat and veiw each other.
However, their plight is focused on equality. That's the BLM message at the root of it.
These people didn't get to start at the same level as everyone else. They didn't get started from scratch, they started 10 paces behind with hurdles of stigmatisation, with negative images of themselves, etc.
Example In slavery the women were separated from the men and children grew up without fathers. And it might seem a long time ago but there is where the domino effect starts and progressed. Fast forward to issues as not getting loans due to race and banking issues due to race. In a system where a person can't advance himself without that opportunity. These are just a few factors that really set the black people in the US back and frankly I'm amazed at how far they've come and how hard they've fought.
So as you indicated they need the barries to be broken. They need empathy and understanding. The same that is applied to white persons.
A side thing that bothered me in your words: I liked that you expressed yourself with honesty. Just wanted to say that whatever the man was accused of (note that word) doesn't play a factor since it is injustice to take his life for it. He was a human just like you and I and as humans we deserve fairness and justice. The justice would've been to apply that same "innocent until proven guilty" mantra. Fairness would be to let his accusations be heard out through the proper channels. So with that in mind his accused crime really has no weight in the matter since the point is on the treatment and resulting death of another human.
@Comandante ,Thank you for sharing. I am all for protecting the integrity of the justice system, and respecting the human dignity of people who are accused of committing crimes. That is the beauty of the justice system. Fairness for all. Every life matters . Guess what I am trying to say is that , If This man was of a different ethnicity , this might have ended up as a massive police brutality case but Right now, its a black lives matters. The late Mr Floyd lost his life on the street because firstly , he was black and secondly , he was a suspect or rather he must be handled aggressively as he is a dangerous suspect which is the behaviour projected by the police officers . My sincere thought is : did he being black make him a suspect and did he being black give the officers permission to treat him so coldheartedly without any compassion or mercy. ? Was he being black the main criteria …and if that is so … Why this line of thinking ? ... Why this social stigma ? …How did this come about ?…and How can we change / correct it ? Who has to change it ? What can the blacks and everyone else do , to change this sad gloomy phase they are all in right now. My best wishes to the # BlackLivesMatters movement because the change they bring about today will not only heal their pain and improve their lives but also cause a profound ripple effect for the rest of the communities all over the world who are facing similar situations.
@faithlove1111
Thanks for responding back because it cleared a lot of misunderstandings I had from you initial post.
l understand your point fully now.
It's a really difficult time but the protesters now have the platform so they should proceed to have more dialogue. More dialogue in how the moving forwards should happen
@faithlove1111 Agreed.
we are all God's children, and Black Lives Matter goes without saying.
Black History is one of the biggest foundations and building blocks in the history of America.
treat others the way that you want to be treated, that makes us all one Unity Of People.
@Heather225 Thank you for this. I'm glad to support something that has the same values as myself.
I personally don't like the movement. It's monopolizing the discussion right now versus the other movements and is polarizing it as a "black" issue. It's not: it's an issue of people just letting bad things happen. The "racism" is irrelevant. 50% of violent crimes ARE committed by blacks and that is going to make police officers predisposed to treat blacks badly because of the way our cognitive shortcuts work. Black males often have 13-15% higher testosterone than whites, which is linked to aggression as well. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3455741/ That means discriminating against blacks is based on how our minds work rationally, and that statistically they are more likely to seem like they get discriminated against because they commit more street crimes. The "solutions" tend to be radical because people are acting solely from emotion rather than actually trying to solve the problem. George Floyd right now is being exploited by the Black Lives Matter community as a cultural icon.
1. George Floyd was murdered by a police officer.
2. People were punished, including three police officers for aiding and abetting.
3. It was neglected WHY he committted the murder, and people are just coming up with absurd solutions that won't prevent it from happening again because we're using it as equality in general.
The solution here is actually simple: improve police training, including use of force training and risk management, and strengthen the standards of routine psychiatric exams for the police. That is it.
I disagree solely based on common sense and insight.
Racism and discrimination is not rational. It is however an emotional response to ignorance.
What you are referring to is simply called ‘racial profiling.
Example, studies have shown that while blacks and hispanics are more likely to be searched, those numerous searches are less likely to uncover drugs or weapons than searches of vehicles with white or asian drivers [1]
Racial profiling has already been researched and dismissed as not effective/inefficient. [2]
Even with a hint of common sense a person can deduce this fact. That popular perception that testosterone equates an inevitably violent abusive manly person is clearly inaccurate and outdated.
As individuals we do need to move away from that simplistic conception by treating testosterone not as a stand alone component but be aware that there are far more pertinent variables in models of behaviour. We have longed moved from that ignorant view of biological determinism to biosocial models where we understand that the social environment plays a vital and important role.
References:
[2] https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/paying-price-human-cost-racial-profiling/racial-profiling-doesnt-work
So to move aware from emotional ignorance towards a better understanding is vital. Understanding that ‘black people are not backward or violent due to biological factors but that the economic, social and emotional pressures placed on black people (heavily due to racism) plays a key role in this situation. An unarmed black man is still a man.
It is funny to me that you initially acknowledge the racist bias on the part of police officers (beyond all that smoke screen), yet still say it is not a matter of race and that we must still ask WHY that police officer felt entitled and comfortable taking the life of another human.
Just a small hunch that he didnt view George Floyd as an equal human, perhaps maybe just maybe he felt entitled due to George Floyds …race.
The solution is not simple since it involves reeducating people about racism. Do the police need training? Sure, in many things. They do however need to clamp down on racists within the service and proper emotional training to get a better view of racism.
@Winterscalm
An additional side note:
This whole case of police brutality didn't stem from crimes committed by black people. It started with slavery, it started with segregation. It started on that side of the law. The hostility there from the beginning and continues to present time.
I'm just being honest here. I know emotions are high. It'll take a coming together and a change in the view each side of each other, more so the police side since they have the upper hand on change.
Science is doesn't mean it has the absolute truth. Scientific theories doesn't mean just because it showed something is statistically linked, there is causality.
Crime isn't defined by nature. Crimes are defined by laws, laws invented by people. So linking criminality with biology is arbitrary.
If someone presents a one dimensional explanation for a complex, multidimensional question, then it's very likely not that simple and therefore not true. https://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/criminology/theories/biological-theories-of-crime/16/
If you have a platform you must speak for what's right and wrong. Due to current circumstances that's been made obvious was something that's been going on for a very long time. But why are we speaking up now? Why didn't we spoke about it earlier? Why does pain needs to be portrayed in media for it to even be noticed? At the back hand we all knew what was going on hence we kept quite until now. I'm not here to spread hate all I'm going to say is that seeing people support what's right is absolutely wonderful and I'm very happy to see all the love black people are getting. My point is. They have been suffering for so long. We should've started earlier protesting. We shouldn't wait for things to come up at media while knowing what's going on at the back. Still no hate. Lots of love for people who are supporting and speaking up for black people. Knowing they are humans are well and our colouring does not make any one more superior or inferior ~♡
@Moonlight7Soul
And who decides what's right and wrong?
People need to understand that there are no white race, black race, yellow race, red race. There is only ONE race: the HUMAN race.
I used to be adamant that "all lives matter"... recently seen a bible thing about Jesus going after a wayward sheep, and then a protest sign pointing out that the movement is not "only black lives matter" and more that I don't recall. I want to support change but I also see protests getting perverted by people with agendas (both sides) and people with evil in mind. I believe it is a matter of respect and it is sorely lacking everywhere. I will wait patiently for "toxic lives matter" so perhaps I can be heard. Have a great day.
@ruffneckred ....so true toxic lives matter too. Thanks for making me laugh
@ruffneckred