Ways to Get Involved and Take Care After Tragedy
Dear Youth,
If you are struggling with the tragic events in the news, you are not alone. Below is a collection of resources to support you in understanding what is happening, how to get involved, and ways to take care of yourself.
In Solidarity,
Angelica
Social Emotional Support
While we process current and historical events regarding racism, pride, and identity, it’s important to normalize and acknowledge how they impact our well-being. Knowing that you may be experiencing some or all of the following feelings, and that you are not alone.
Grief: You may experience sorrow because of the senseless deaths of so many Black Americans, including numerous Black trans women over many years. This grief isn’t simply about recent events. For many, this grief has compounded over time. Working through this feeling is an ongoing process–one that may result in many conflicting desires.
Sense of helplessness: You might feel like there’s nothing you can do because you’re only one person. This helplessness can be rooted in the sense that you are a single person, with a single voice. We want to emphasize many people are feeling this as well. Being open and candid about it can make you feel vulnerable. This is something we understand very well.
Sense of hopelessness: It’s possible that the long history of systemic racism can make you feel as though things will never change. As a person who may hold multiple identities, sometimes it seems like we as a country may not do the work that needs to happen for there to be equality.
Disconnecting from allies: You may distance yourself from allies. This may be because it can seem burdensome to share your experience or put your complex thoughts into words. Or it may be that you are feeling anger towards people who share an identity that has historically been more privileged, in this moment.
Rage: On social media and in the news, people are seeing coverage of Black & LGBTQ Americans who were unjustly killed, and it can leave you feeling rage. This rage could be directed towards individuals or to institutions.
Desire to escape: As certain towns experience unrest and protests, it’s possible you may feel a desire to leave your area or change your life completely. We hear a lot of people talking about going to another country simply because circumstances here have become unbearable.
Fear: You may be experiencing a great deal of fear. The things that are happening right now are scary. Fear is a normal reaction to these events; in fact, fear is a protective emotion that is your body’s warning symptom that something is dangerous. Based on what is happening in the world right now, if you are feeling fear, that means that your body’s warning system is working.
Numbness: You may be feeling nothing. For some people, feeling nothing is worse than feeling intense emotions. The events of recent months and years may be too much to process. Numbness can be your body’s reactions to being overwhelmed.
All of these experiences are valid. All of them. Whatever you are feeling is true to your experience. Do not judge your own experience (or others!). Try to find some support in your community, as well as practice self-care.
Ideas for Self-Care
It is ok to stop thinking about these topics. We cannot grieve or stay in sorrow 24/7. It is not healthy for anyone:
As Audre Lorde said: caring for yourself is a form of self-preservation and, thus, “an act of political warfare.” Being healthy and taking care of your emotional well-being is an act of rebellion. If we are exhausted, we cannot be who we want to be.
Q&A
What is a protest?
A protest is when a lot of people come together to show others that they are strongly against an idea or event. For example, people protest racism or war.
There are many ways in which people can protest. Protesters can do things like march together, write a letter, not eat food, sing songs, or even use violence.
Have people protested before?
Protests have been used to fight discrimination and injustice before. It is a way for people to stand up against something that they see as unfair.
For example, ‘The March on Washington’ in 1963 was to fight for civil rights (and is credited with building support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965). People also protest in the United States and all over the world for many reasons, for example for women’s rights, against war, to overthrow colonialism, etc.
What are riots? What is rebellion?
Riots happen when many people meet to be violent or when a crowd becomes violent. This can happen after sports events, demonstrations, or protests. Most people and the government want to stop riots, because rioters damage property and attack people. The police are used to stop riots. They often use shields and non-lethal weapons, for example tear gas, rubber bullets, etc.
Rebellions are an act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler. Many people consider this moment in time to be a rebellion to encourage systematic change in the racial disparities in police violence. A rebellion is against something and stands for something.
Why are riots/rebellion happening now?
Some people are so angry about what happened [and patterns of racism] that they are destroying property. And the police are angry that they are being criticized, so they are mis-using their power and hurting demonstrators, even when the demonstrators are trying to be peaceful in their protests.
Many people are also protesting peacefully, without rioting. Many police officers want to "protect and to serve" (the police motto in the U.S.) and don't want to hurt anyone.
Am I going to get hurt?
No, your family is here to protect you.
What does Black Lives Matter mean?
Black Lives Matter (BLM for short) is an international activist group. It started in the African-American community. BLM stands against violence and systemic racism towards black people. Black Lives Matter is important, because black people are killed more often by the police than most other groups and this brings attention to that problem. Black Lives Matters means that Black people’s lives should be equally valued to those of other racial groups.
Question: How can I talk about protests in an anti-racist way?
Reflect on the words that the media and others are using to describe protests and people participating. Contrast how fans rioting after a sports event are described vs people rioting in response to generations of oppression and injustice. Think about the impact of words like rebellion and revolution vs riot.
Reflect on how white protestors with weapons were treated during anti-lockdown riots vs black protestors without weapons are being treated during current protests.
Center the reason people are rioting, instead of the riots. For example, reflect on the difference in these two statements:
It’s a shame that a man died, but the riots need to stop.
vs.
It’s a shame there are riots, but the killing of Black Americans by the police needs to stop.
Or
Instead of saying:
It’s horrible that an innocent Black man was killed, but destroying property needs to stop.
You can say:
It’s horrible that property is being destroyed, but killing innocent Black men has to stop.
Reflect on why and how we talk about protests that are fighting for the basic safety and civil rights of all people.
“The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.” -Kimberlé Crenshaw
People to Know
BlackPast: History of people of African descent who identify as LGBTQ
DoSomething: LGBTQ Youth Activists
Britannica: Activists Known in History
Book List
Ways to Get Involved
Setting up a community study group to learn more about the issue
Watch Jay Smooth's Ted talk How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Discussing Race.
Inspiration From Others
New York Times: 7 Times When Students Turned To Activism
Education Week: How one Principal Supported his Students in the Aftermath of Protests
Complex: Young Activists Who are Changing the World
Youth in Front: Advice on Leading Change from Youth Activists & Allies
Support Resources
Are you a student (age 12+) and need someone to talk to? Call 1-800-843-5200 24/7 and reach a crisis counselor who will listen.
If you would rather text, text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis counseling.
Download the TeenTalk app for a safe online space to discuss stress & worry https://teenlineonline.org/teen-talk-mobile-app/
For LGBTQIA specific support: Trevor lifeline is a crisis intervention & suicide prevention phone service for free 24/7 crisis counseling: 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678 for confidential text messaging with a counselor, 24/7
Resources: Caliber:CMA