Rae La Soul

I have been following this case since it began and it’s still heartbreaking. It will always be heartbreaking because as a parent, as a daughter, as a sister, and as a friend, I can understand how the family and friends of TM may feel. What saddens me even more is how people are making a big issue of how we, the people who are able to sympathize, show our support. Maybe we can’t be there physically, or rally, or protest, but are we not supposed to show any type of support? And why does it matter how we show our support?

I’m not sure what people want other people to do. They want us to care, but when we do and when we show support, we’re considered followers or doing it just because everyone else is doing it. It’s never because we actually care. When this situation first came to light, everyone was mad because we were in the dark about it. Now that we’re showing support and are aware, some of those same people are, in a sense, telling us to fall back.

I know a black profile pic won’t change anything. But it shows my awareness. It shows I care. It shows my support. And if I’m wrong for that, then oh well!

Carla

A friend of mine expressed his confusion and disgust in regards to all those people who feel as if the “black profile pics” are ridiculous. Apparently, showing your support these days is a crime. A lot of my friends and family members are “blacking out.” And to me, it’s really a joy to see. When this incident occurred, a lot of people didn’t even know what was going on or who Trayvon Martin was. And that angered me more than people changing their profile pics to black.

Because apparently, changing your profile pic to support the cause won’t change anything. And maybe it won’t. But doesn’t it show that you’re aware of what’s going on? Because if I am not mistaken, not many knew that George Zimmerman gunned down a kid and wasn’t immediately arrested. Doesn’t it show that you are thinking and maybe even praying for the family, the friends, and the community of Trayvon Martin?

I may not be able to attend any rallies, but I can show my support. I may not be able to protest, but I can volunteer within my community to make sure kids have a positive environment to exist in. I can donate to my children’s Boys & Girls Club. I can dedicate my time to educational camps–give presentations to kids, devote my time to help kids build robots during the summer because at least for that period of time, they are safe. But ya’ll don’t fucking see me.

And that’s really not my purpose.. to broadcast what I do. My purpose is to do. And that’s what I do. I do.

I’d love to write more about how I feel about the situation, but to be honest, I don’t even know where to start. Maybe another day when I’m not as confused or unaware in regards to why showing SUPPORT is a bad thing to do. Maybe when I’m not as angry. So head over to Far From Satire. Maybe you can produce an answer to the “…..Why?”

Or, maybe he can sum it up for you: