Silence Hurts
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sometimes we are silent out of fear of saying something to make it worse. Sometimes we are silent because we are in pain. Sometimes we are silent because we are uncertain of the next step to take. Sometimes we are silent because we fear our voice may not be taken seriously. Regardless of the reason for being silent, silence is never the answer.
Silence hurts. Silence leaves all of us feeling isolated. Silence does not move us forward. It is time for us to come together to speak up about justice, equality for all, and in support of love.
Torridon Counseling is an ally. A place of safety. A place of anti-racism. A place of advocating for others and a place of helping people advocate for themselves. Healing takes place here. Support takes place here. There is no room for hate, for bias, or for racism of any kind. Black lives matter here and everywhere.
How to Speak Up
Listen first. While it may seem counterintuitive, listening is the most important step. You may have experienced racism first hand or may never have experienced it directly. When we listen first, we allow ourselves to hear what others have gone through. We can see more perspectives that we may have unintentionally been ignorant of before and empathize at a deeper level. Listen and truly hear the stories of others. Even if they are difficult. Especially if they are difficult.
Listening creates understanding. Understanding builds empathy and knowledge. All of these are necessary in order to feel empowered to move forward and end racism.
Engage in local government. Become a voter. Reach out to your local representatives, congressmen and congresswomen, and senators. It may feel scary to call or send an email but remember… it is their jobs to speak up and to advocate for what their constituents (you!) want. Help them and tell them what you want. If you are unsure about what to say, 5Calls has scripts you can use or modify to fit your own voice. The American Psychological Association also has helpful guidelines on how to create an effective message for your government officials.
https://www.apa.org/advocacy/guide/phone-call
Educate yourself. If you feel ignorant or concerned about saying the wrong thing, educate yourself. There are so many resources to learn from including podcasts, news articles, books, movies, videos, and more. Talk with friends, family, and support circles online. I’ve included links to many resources below.
Get Others Involved. Do not let small micro-aggressions or moments of racism pass in your circle of family and friends. Talk about race and speak out in your circles. It might feel uncomfortable to speak up at first. However silent complacency is worse than not speaking up. Instead of feeling like you don’t want to make waves, see the waves as so productive and important. These waves create bigger movements and moments of change.
Support your community. Join protests. Sign petitions. Donate to foodbanks and local charities. Shop at Black owned businesses. We are all hurting. Coming together to support each other helps us stop racism and to start to collectively heal as a society.