My advice for fellow white people in this moment

We are seeing unrest nationwide due to the George Floyd killing at the hands of a Police Officer. I keep being asked for my opinion of the situation, but I have no opinion to offer in this moment. However, I do have some advice to offer, but that advice is limited to other white people like myself — some perhaps altruistically seeking ways to relate to their friends, family, or neighbors who are people of color.

Like most people, I have friends of color who are in pain right now. And its a pain to which I cannot relate. Because of that, the bottom line of my advice is this;

I think I should be quiet and listen.

I wholeheartedly believe that, as a white person, that is the only thing I should really be doing right now. Remember that this is not just about one or two incidents and in the end, we really have no way to relate to how our friends of color are feeling right now. I think we should allow people of color the space to make their voices heard, so I should be quiet and listen.

So if you are fellow white person interested in helping or making things better right now in this moment, here are my easy to follow guidelines;

DO NOT give your analysis/opinion/perspective of what is going on.
DO NOT tell people of color what they SHOULD be doing/feeling/saying
DO NOT show up to a rally and try to make your voice heard OVER the people of color
DO NOT use this moment to prove “how woke” you are by acting out
DO NOT use this moment to push your own personal agenda or need for attention
DO NOT quote a black leader like MLK jr with your opinion of “what they meant.”

DO protest if you feel called to protest
DO march if you feel called to march
DO make yourself available as a shoulder to cry on or an ear to vent
DO allow your friends of color to have space if they need space
DO be careful with what “news” articles you share on Facebook.

What comes next will be what comes next. But for now, be quiet and listen.