We need change

The last days have been hectic, eye-opening, powerful and incredibly insightful. The injustice of black people have been going on for so long but the last week with the whole Black Lives Matter movement has been really impactful and I can’t imagine anyone has missed it, and I believe everyone has had a big awakening about what is actually going on. I’ve spent the last days either glued to my phone watching video after video, reading posts and listening to the black community about their thoughts and what we can do to change this madness. When I wasn’t on my phone I’ve had deep discussions with Klemens and my family.

A lot of texts and quotes have been circulating on social media the last days and what really caught my mind was this text “It’s not enough to “not be racist”, we have to be actively antiracist. It is our responsibility to listen, learn, take action, fail forward, and repeat.” And that is totally right. We’ve been going around being “not racist”, but we haven’t really done much about it, and that is not enough. If we don’t do anything about it, then who will? It is our responsibility to change, to learn, to listen to the black people, to teach our friends, family and specially our children and to actively stand up against racism.

It’s been a roller coaster of emotions, and I’ve tried to put together my thoughts, but I didn’t want to just share information that I didn’t really look through. It’s been heartbreaking to see and read all the stories from the black people and I can’t even imagine how they feel with all the injustice. It is so wrong!

I absolutely love how much attention and awareness the BLM movement has gained globally and on social media the last days, and to see so many people get together fighting for the same thing is amazing. Apart from this positive energy and love, there has also been a lot of accusations like “where have you been before” etc etc, and I think that is wrong, if we are going to work for a better future together, we have to stand together, hate won’t help, only love and respect will. If we learn to respect and to give love, the world will be a much better place. Some of us haven’t spoken up before about important topics like these, I’m one of them – I haven’t used my platform much for news or to educate. 

My goal was always to deliver inspiration, wether it be in fashion, interior or travel, a place where you can escape reality for a little bit. I know it seems superficial and unimportant, but I think in a world with a lot of negativity, it’s important to have places to disconnect as well. However, this time I had to share my thoughts, because it is a very important subject and it’s about human rights! I will try to get better at educating through my platform now and then, specially after this week where I learnt that staying silent is not the right thing to do. Some are scared of speaking up because we are afraid of saying the “wrong thing”, which might lead to criticism, but speaking up imperfectly is better than staying silent. Black people have been fighting over this since forever and everyone has to join. Racism needs to end and can’t be tolerated anywhere, so let’s all speak up and stand together!

What should we do?

• First thing is to understand white privilege and acknowledging the benefits white people had or have because of the colour of their skin. Black people have been oppressed throughout history and have not had the same opportunities as white people. Thinking about this, this is unbelievable and wrong, if we don’t realise this first, there won’t be a change.
• We have to educate ourselves further via books, movies or documentaries, keep the conversation going by talking and sharing it with our families, friends and audiences. 
• We have to speak up whenever we hear or see injustice and racist behaviour.
• We have to support black businesses as well as demand brands and businesses to include people of colour, have equality within their companies and more inclusion and diversity in their campaigns. 
• Sign petitions and/or donate to victims families, activists or bail support. See link at the bottom.
• All vote! 

Take the past week as a positive example of how much can be achieved by listening to the black voices, sharing, speaking up, donating and signing petitions. So when you think “what difference does it make when I do something?”, well, it makes a huge difference when a lot of us do it together. But if you don’t do it, there’s one less, and if all of us think our voice doesn’t matter, no one will stand up.

Black lives matter shouldn’t be a trending topic right now, it should be common sense for the rest of the time. I hope all of you who are reading this take this into real consideration, even though you might think racism isn’t happening around you, it probably is, so speak up and do what’s right!

All lives matters when black lives matter.

Places to donate and sign petitions:
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co

Movies/docus + books to watch to educate yourself:
13th
When they see us
American son
Dear white people
The hate U give
Who killed Malcolm X?

Books:
How to be an antiracist
The hate U give
Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race

There are so much more, google and stay informed <3

Lots of love xx Mikuta + Klemens