What comes to your mind when you think of individuals like Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Rosa Parks, Gloria Steinem, Harriet Tubman, Yousafzai, Susan B. Anthony, Malcolm X, Mother Teresa and Angela Davis? You may think of things like social activists, influential leaders, and people who have changed history. When I think of each of these individuals and their impact, the one thing that comes to my mind is that they all started to make a change where they could. None of them just became worldwide leaders and household names overnight. 

Each one of us has the power in our own way to make a change in the world. Think about what Ghandi said, “be the change you want to see in the world.” In light of the recent events in America, so many people are struggling to make sense of so much racism, inequalities and hatred in the year 2020. You would think that as the top nation of the world, we would have made much further strides when it comes to tackling things like racial injustice and inequality. But unfortunately, this is just not true. There is still a huge gap for African Americans and people of color, like me, when it comes to fair and equal treatment in this country. When many of us ponder to think of what we can do to change the current state of America or how we can make a difference, it does seem like an insurmountable place to begin. But we all have the power to make a difference. Some of us will go on to the be next Oprah and Martin while others will leave this Earth with only people in our family and community knowing the difference we made, but it is important to know that you can make a difference. 

If you are trying to figure out where to start, here is some advice. If you are white, my first piece of advice is to acknowledge the injustice, pain and hurt that black people have experienced in this country for hundreds of years. Then, educate yourself! This means, read books, get on the internet and do your research, watch educational videos, and listen. Learn about the inequality and injustices that people of color have had to face in this country. It is not enough to just reach out to your black family and friends. Knowledge is power! Then the next thing to do is have meaningful conversations with other people of all backgrounds. A lot of this stuff is not easy to talk about, but it is necessary. Also, check your heart. Check your biases and your own prejudices and stereotypes that you have made. And then do something! It looks different for many people but do something positive and impactful that will make a lasting difference in this world. 

For all my black brothers and sisters, may we not lose hope! We must continue to fight the good fight of faith, especially for the generations to come. Let us continue to come together in our communities and fight for what we deserve. Don’t give up! We have blood of African Kings and Queens running through out veins. It is important that we keep the momentum going. That we support one another and be light even when the world tries to dim us! 

We all need each other in this fight! It should be important to ALL of us the injustices and inequalities we see each day. It is no longer acceptable to turn a blind eye or have a deaf ear! You can make a difference! And I hope you have already started! 

Be blessed!