The world is overwhelming right now for folks like me; it’s a nightmare of rage and frustration and tears for people who’ve been at the wrong end of authority for decades. Let me say this up front: I am an anti-fascist. I’m anti-authoritarian. My Serbian family – my Deda Janko and Deda Dragan in particular – fought the Nazis as they ravaged Serbia. They ended their service in a POW camp and, from there, escaped to the US where they worked to train people in the State Department in Yugoslavian (as it was called then) and tried to get their families away from Tito’s regime.
My mother’s family has seen corrupt presidents and strongmen, some backed by the US, some – like now – backed by stolen money and their own egos – tear up Venezuela. She was happy I had a choice not to join the military. Becoming part of the armed forces was an act of survival for many and not duty.
Both sides of my family came to the US because it promised freedom, opportunity, and the rule of law for everyone. Now… now, we’re watching people in power not only break that promise, but do so out of greed, cowardice, and a belief their America (the one with the No Coloreds, no Foreigners sign outside the country club) is the only America.
So what can we do? Well, my old work colleague Lynnete found this resource document from Jeel Wolfkin Orchard for anyone who wants to learn about George Floyd, and help stop any more from joining him.
“(Taken from the author’s introduction).
PLEASE SHARE: This list of resources is for individuals who are looking to take action but are unsure where to begin. It assumes that the reader has already understood that police brutality is an ongoing issue affecting the black community, and would like to educate themselves and provide aid in any way they can.
I have compiled links to resources that I’ve seen floating around, and done my best to source as much as possible. The purpose of this document is to compile as much information that’s been readily available as possible. As a non-black person of color, I want to recognize that I cannot dictate what a protest in response to violence facing black communities should look like. This document serves as a means of compiling already present resources and information.
If you have any resources that you would like to add, or any corrections to make to this document, please contact me via @abjectcriticism on Twitter. (Taken from the author’s introduction).”
There are other resources out there as well. And let me say this: Do what you can do. Even if you can’t go out into the streets, you can help friends who do. You can circulate resources, fund local freedom projects, be there as a phone call for a friend. At the bare minimum, educate yourself and others.
I would not be here if it wasn’t for both sides of my family having a dream about America and what it represented. The dream and the reality don’t meet as often as we like – but we can change this. We just have to fight.
Biomechanoid Blues 