Why are you speaking up?
This isn’t a question to answer to us but to yourself. Ask yourself why you were silent before, what has changed, and how that impacts your decision to speak up. Are you motivated to keep your platform? Are you horrified by the images coming out of Rafah?
You should speak up for the benefit of the oppressed, not for your platform. If you’re concerned about your platform you must examine why that is a stronger driving force than ending genocide.
Have you educated yourself?
Do you know what you’re talking about? Do you have a basic understanding? It doesn’t take a PHD to say genocide is bad, but it does take someone ready to learn more about what is happening, why it is happening, and what role they can play in ending the genocide. If you are unwilling to do the work before, during, and after speaking up take the time to examine why. The resources are easily available to you! Check out my resources tab to get started.
Don’t expect immediate absolution.
It has been 8 months of the most depraved actions from the apartheid state of israel. Your peers have laid witness to some of the most horrific acts on earth and Palestinians have experienced them.
We have experienced the collective trauma of seeing genocide in real-time.
People are tired, traumatized, and grieving. Your silence contributed to this. To many, your silence was disturbing. You cannot expect people to welcome you with open arms immediately, and you must avoid having this expectation.
Instead, you must be prepared to admit that your silence was wrong. You must be ready to accept the judgment and understand why you are being judged. You must be willing to keep speaking up regardless of any judgment. You must be willing to grow. THIS is what people will respond to.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Take the time to truly understand both the history of Palestinian oppression and current events.
FOLLOW PALESTINIAN ACCOUNTS
True understanding of what needs to be done will come from following and engaging with Palestinians. Tap this page for recommendations.
CONTACT YOUR REPS
We must keep applying pressure by contacting our representatives to demand an immediate ceasefire, defunding of the apartheid state, and an end to the occupation.
BDS WORKS!
Follow @bdsnationalcommittee and visit their website to learn what it is and how to join.
SPONSOR A FAMILY
Visit the @operationolivebranch spreadsheet to find a family to sponsor by donating or fundraising. Be clear as to what you’re doing and don’t shy away from using the words ‘Palestine’ ‘Gaza’ “Rafah’ and ‘genocide’.
ASK YOUR PEERS TO DO THE SAME
Everyone else has been speaking up, fundraising, and witnessing. You need to not only do these things, but also ask the same of your peers who have remained silent.
CONTINUE DECONSTRUCTION
We all have deconstruction work to do. You do too! Take the time to work on deconstruction and understand that it is a lifelong process. See these posts for more perspective on the ‘right to comfort’ and propaganda you may have consumed.
Further Reading
How to Read Now covers the politics and ethics of reading, how we engage with literature, and the way that literature often furthers the cause of settler colonialism.
Feminist movements regularly center white women and give little thought to Black and brown women. Hood Feminism explores how white women are regularly centered and little thought is given to Black and brown women.
Get insight into how white women participate in white supremacy in a multitude of ways through White Tears/Brown Scars.
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