Words Speaks Volume

Remember when you were taught to do unto others, that is, to treat others the same way you wanted them to treat you?  This simple rule of thumb for behavior speaks to me and about me.  It also speaks to others, letting them know what action I expect them to take.

Words have a way of speaking life, creating mood, galvanizing one to take action, and mobilizing others to respond accordingly.  I have been looking at and listening to the language around the Black Lives Matter and subsequent protests.  And I’ve been thinking about the action that collective Black America wants others to take.  Some action goes without saying: we all want to live, we want freedom, we want respect as human beings, we want a fair chance in this world, and we want the ability to pursue that which we desire for ourselves.

As I grapple with statements such as “I can’t breathe” and “I’m tired,” I search for a mobilizing intention.  I saw a post today from a compilation of those from around the world standing in solidarity with Black America and the sign read, “Let us breathe!”  Now that spoke to me!  That’s it!  Let me breathe!  Let us breathe!  I hope you can see the distinction I am pointing out here.  This tells others what I want and it lets the other person know what I am requesting of them.  We do not want to leave it up to anyone to interpret what we want him or her to do.  Make your request known!

We are all fighting for our dignity.  It is human nature.  We were all created to be loved, to belong, and to matter.  And when any of these basic human needs are not met we begin to formulate mixed messages and see each other in a different light than originally intended.  There are some things we just got to do together as the human race.  Rodney King said it best:  “Can we just get along?”  Again this is telling others what we want and it is making a request of others at the same time.  Perhaps, this is the flip side of “I’m tired.”  I will let you decide. 

I love that Stephen Jackson told George Floyd’s daughter that her daddy changed the world.  What a powerful statement to grow up with!  What a powerful image this creates for her of her daddy! Language speaks volumes.  So let’s think of words that support the continued mobilizing effort of the movement! 

Rest in peace George Floyd.  Because you could not breathe, we can.