Be Advocates for Others

Dear girls,

I hope and pray you will be advocates for others – including Black women.

If you remember nothing else, please remember these tidbits:

1. Play a role in the fight for justice. Find an activity that resonates with you and get involved.

2. Involve White people to the cause. If they are sincere and want to help, embrace them.

3. Do not apologize for wanting to help your own people. Being pro-Black does not mean you are anti-White.

4. Have courage. You can’t worry about what folks are going to say. They are going to talk about you no matter what you do.

5. Identify other young people with passion and encourage them to become activists. Be real and authentic. If not, they will not deal with you – and they shouldn’t.

6. Support others. You are going to expect support from others. You need to give it if you want to receive it.

7. Leverage your authority, position and power to help others. Your fancy job title and degrees – which you will earn one day – will not matter if you do not have the guts to use them for good.

   
   

Honoring Dr. King, Others and Yourselves

Dear girls,

As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists, let’s all strive to be more courageous. He was assassinated fighting for US.

If you are afraid to speak out about police brutality against unarmed Black people because it might offend your White friends, get new friends.

If you are afraid to speak out about racial injustice because it might offend your White boss and coworkers, why are you working there?

If you vote against your own interests because you want to be accepted by White people, you need to ask yourself why.

If you are afraid to look White people in their faces – something that my White bestie sees way too often – you need to have courage and remember that you are free.

People gave their lives to make our lives better. The LEAST we can do is to speak up. Always do so – even when you are afraid.