By Phoenix Calida (November 14, 2015)
I’m tired. I’m weary. it’s not that I don’t care about France, it’s that the rest of the world cares about France. It’s a tragedy. It shouldn’t have happened. But the emergency medical care, emergency funds, emergency safe spaces and counseling will be provided for French citizens by default.
I’d rather focus on signal boosting Beirut, and working with #blacklivesmatterand #BlackMizzou and local stateside anti racist initiatives.
Not because France isn’t a tragedy or terrorist attack, but because France is *one of many* terrorist attacks happening. The only difference is the world is in solidarity with France. France doesn’t need my efforts. I’d rather give my very limited and finite resources to those who need them.
So my focus stays on racism and misogyny and how it affects people of color specifically latinx, black, and native people. Because there is no solidarity when terrorism impacts those communities. Thousands of people of color are harassed, assaulted, and killed by police, people of color being raped and murdered in jail…
The people who don’t get hashtags or lights on buildings or messages of global solidarity. That’s who I’m standing with right now. Because they need what the rest of the world is giving France right now. More importantly, they deserve the same love and compassion France is getting right now.