South Asian For Black Lives
In the wake of the George Floyd tragedy our country has been deeply shaken and a new cry for change has been passionately reignited. Like so many of you I see the pain, I see the outrage, and I stand in solidarity with the black community.
As a South Asian woman born & brought up in Minneapolis I grew up with a mother who spent over 10 years teaching in Minneapolis public schools where the majority of her colleagues and students were African American. Having been raised by someone who interacted on a daily basis with the Black community, there has always been an understanding and respect for Black voices in our house, which is why it’s heartbreaking to watch our fellow minorities suffer.
Yesterday, my family and I went to go visit the site of George Floyd’s murder and participate in his memorial rally. The Indian Association of Minnesota invited our South Asian community members to join in for this important cause, and it was incredibly moving! The media keeps showing the violence and anger, but what I saw was anything but…Instead I witnessed an incredibly uplifting environment where every single person present was peacefully inspiring one another with their stories, speeches, performances, and calls to action. This is what we call the power of the people!
Not a single house, building, or business in sight didn’t have some sort of artwork or tribute to George Floyd plastered on their walls. The streets were filled with shrines and messages demanding change. Every few minutes we saw a sea of people raising their fists in unison and calling out “say his name!” I came to listen and what I left with was an admiration and fire for this massive show of solidarity that will change history.
One of my favorite moments from the rally was seeing an auntie get up on stage and lead an entire crowd in chanting “om shanti shanti shantihi” (a Sanskrit mantra meaning “let there be peace in speech, body, and mind”).
In that moment I was really proud of the passion shown by our people and their ability to empathize with others to understand and grow.
Date:
June 5, 2020
Category:
Digital Art
