I used to be very sheltered.
I used to not understand that racial injustice was still something people of color faced in our country every day.
I used to think we had gotten over that long ago. I used to think that everyone knew — the color of someone’s skin does not define who they are.
I used to have no idea that black people were mercilessly killed by the police because they were viewed as “threats” — because of what they looked like.
Now that I’m seeing that for myself, all over the internet, covered in the words that come out of people’s mouths, I feel a lot of things.
I feel shocked.
I feel sick.
I feel scared.
I feel angry.
I feel sad.
I think the killing of George Floyd has brought many of us to the attention of this raging violence against black people. I think it has left many of us desperately wanting to make an impact; to take action against the racism swallowing our country whole; and I think it has left many of us feeling helpless. Feeling small against the enormity of everything that is happening in our world.
It’s hard for me to lay out all my thoughts clean and clear,
But I think it’s important for us to discuss how we feel; what we know; what we believe. I think it’s important for us to share what we’ve seen with our families and with our friends. I think it’s important to be vocal about this online and/or in other environments. I think it’s important to educate ourselves and use our knowledge in meaningful ways — to spread the word. I think it’s important to add our names to petitions and maybe make a donation here or there to a black lives matter cause.
I think it’s important to learn what we can do to help. And I think all these things can make a big difference.
Here’s something I know.
I know that all of our voices together can change the world.
I know we all can join together on this, no matter who we are. The black people that have been murdered deserve justice and the love from each of our hearts; the protests from every single one of us, can give them just that.
I don’t know very much, but I know I don’t want to be silent. I want to be loud. I want to be loud against the injustice and I want justice for black people to come alive EVERYWHERE.
I hope you will be loud, too.

Greta Garner