Loading ...Education and Activism as a Result of the George Floyd Killing
By: Yasmina Hage/Arab America Contributing Writer
As you know, on May 25, 2020, George Floyd lost his life due to police violence. George Floyd’s death was the final straw. In fact, police violence against people of color has been denounced for a long time and on several occasions in the media. However, this movement this time goes further. Today, the movement is not only local and national but also international. The pain is being felt and the anger is being expressed.
The current movement is to pay tribute to this family man who unjustly and painfully died. Nevertheless, that is far from being all. The movement is also about other African Americans who have been brutally killed by police. This movement is about change once and for all. People are determined to be heard and heard loudly and clearly. This movement is demanded not only by African Americans but also by Caucasians and people of different nationalities, colors, and religions; they are all fighting for the same cause: to end racism and stop police violence against people of color.
People in America and everywhere want to be equal. No one wants to be judged by their skin color, their name, their looks, their attire, or their ethnic origins. These characteristics represent a pride, a history, a culture, and a heritage!
Racism
It is the year 2020, and it is time NOW to treat people as humans with their distinctive qualities, their enriching backgrounds, their cultural values, and their capabilities to contribute to society. No one is superior because of their origin or color. All of us must be treated equally and all of us must remember that what makes us human is not the color of our skin and where we come from.
The System
People in law enforcement have an essential job of protecting the people, serving the nation, and helping to build a better world. Therefore, the moment the people are afraid of the police (even though they have nothing to blame themselves for), there is a problem. Demonstrators have to stop looking for reasons for acting with outrage. Death is something far too big for us to understand, control, and own.
If the people demonstrate, it’s not against “all the police”. Of course, many are on the side of the people. Here is a video that illustrates this:
Generalization
Generalization is linked to stigmatization. It leads to racism and takes away humanity. Humankind has this tendency to always want to put everyone and everything in a category, even for aspects that can’t be categorized. Just because you or someone you know has had problems with people of color, for example, doesn’t mean that all people of color are like them. One can’t generalize and put all people of the same color in the same bag. It wouldn’t make sense because not all blacks are the same; not all Arabs are the same, not all whites, and so on.. The time is now to begin to see people for who they are and not for what they look like.
Arab populations are also on the move!
The Arab American populations more than other ethnic groups have been victims of racism, generalization, discrimination and hate. Their support for the movement is very present here in America and abroad.
Arab populations want are for change; they demonstrate; they teach their communities, they are holding daily online meetings and speak loudly amongst themselves and in public. Their presence is being felt dramatically through social media. See the following examples:
- Tweets to denounce racism:
"Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible – even if you're choking in it – until you let the sun in. Then you see it everywhere." @kaj33
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) June 2, 2020
- On Instagram, they post a lot of videos and stories to denounce racism and spread a message of equality. Here a compilation of the most popular videos:
- A lot of Arab Americans are going to the streets in support of this movement:
- Like many, some Arabs have put this hand in their profile picture to show their support:
- Others support the protesters by giving them food. For example, see this video
- A demonstration in Syria in support of the Black Lives Matter movement:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBHgqCGjWtE/?igshid=17sy7y0g51w2k
But most impressive are the artistic works to support this movement!
Arts
- Syrian artists from the province of Idleb paid homage to Floyd Gorge with a frenzy on a destroyed wall in the middle of the ruins.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA0mVHhJ_BV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
- Adham Chamseddine, a Lebanese Calligrapher, dedicated a work of art for the victim of racism and injustice.
- A Palestinian artist, Waleed Ayyoub, honors George Floyd by painting him with the flag of Palestine on the border wall in Bethlehem. « If you stand with humanity, you should stand with every injustice. »
- Abdul Majeed Al Maamari, a Graffiti artist in Oman, paints tribute to George Floyd
“The work shows the image of Floyd, with a tear running down his face and a noose with the word “racism” tied around his neck. Two birds, one black and one white are perched on his shoulder. His last words, “I can’t breathe,” are written below him. On Instagram, Al Maamari included a quote from the Prophet Muhammad in his legend, stating: There is no favor of an Arab over a foreigner, nor of a foreigner over an Arab, and no white skin over black skin, nor black skin over white skin, except by justice.” published by Art and Culture.
- It’s Lina Abojaradeh, who made this artwork. She says, “I hope this opens a deeper discussion and conversation about racism. We, as Arabs, also need to have these conversations in our community.”
- Nouri Flayhan, a Lebanese artist, makes an illustration where we can see an American officer being filmed, with the words “the whole world is watching.”
You can also check out this article Arab America has written recently: https://www.arabamerica.com/george-floyds-injustice-a-microcosm-in-all-cultures/
Sources:
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