How to Make Lifestyle Changes to Continuously Supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement

NEW BEGINNINGS

No words could ever express how African Americans felt witnessing the death of George Floyd and several other black individuals before him. Not only were we affected as a single race, George Floyd’s death had an impact on the world. Now other countries, ethnicities and races are beginning to try and understand our pain. People are seeing the mistreatment and the unfairness of the justice system, irrational attacks and small-minded attitudes some individuals have towards blacks in America.

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I'm usually quiet about certain things and like to keep an optimistic energy on my feed. However, I've been put in a position to influence and share my views with a DIVERSE audience. We must do better as humans. It needs to stop. What's it going to take? It's time to unite and truly live in the other person's shoes. Kindness and empathy goes a long way. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼

A post shared by Natonya ✖️ Body Posi Lifestyle (@justnatonya) on May 31, 2020 at 9:25am PDT

I’m witnessing followers of mine attending protests to seek justice, reading books about racial microaggressions and watching documentaries on how racism and stereotypes affect us. This is a wonderful step towards changing unpractical behavior towards black people. Anytime you increase your knowledge in an area you don’t know or understand, it produces change by clearing ignorance of the mind to soften and influence the heart.

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I don’t feel it’s right to share my usual content yet, not with the way black people are still being treated especially during the protests around the world, especially in America! So instead I want to share this quote I came across while doing some reading, I have always believed education is essential to make the world a better place and even more so now! I’m educating myself and my children to make a difference and stand by all black people to support them, help them and especially during this time and going forward ensure that no matter who or where they are they are safe and treated with the same respect and kindness as everyone else! Things need to change and if I can educate myself, continue to support, donate and petition, as well as educate my children, I hope my small contribution and support along side millions of others will prove that Black Lives Matter!! 🖤 #blacklivesmatter

A post shared by Pınar 🧿 Skincare + Lifestyle (@beautywithpinarx) on Jun 6, 2020 at 7:51am PDT

Where do we go from here? Once everything calms down, how do we keep moving forward? How do we end the patterns of ignorant behavior? One way is through education. Knowledge is power. We need to start educating ourselves about one another. Another way is to kindly immerse yourself in other cultures. Take time to ask genuine questions through soaking up the history of different cultures and lifestyles.

As a black digital content creator, God has put me in a position to obtain a DIVERSE audience through my blogging and social media platforms. It’s time I use my platform to promote my culture more effectively. Not only will I continue to write posts about embracing my natural hair, I will share content geared towards the black community to help educate my non black followers. I need to become a link in drawing all types of people together. Let’s make an effort to help transform the way we think through our simple daily activities.

Become a Part of Diverse Communities

Take a look at your circle of friends. Do they all look the same? If the answer is yes, you need to make more friends that come from different backgrounds. Not befriend someone just to cover yourself in saying you have a black friend or someone of a another race. Do it to FULLY OPEN YOUR MIND TO VARIOUS CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. We learn the most from those who surround us on a daily basis. It’s important to make sure the content and information consumed regularly is filled with multiple types of people so you become more well-rounded.

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SIMPLY SISTERHOOD STANDS 100% BEHIND BLACK LIVES MATTER! . I am a BLACK WOMEN in America and have encountered acts of racism, discrimination in multiple countries, and mistreatment simply because of the color of my skin. . I have been deemed an angry black woman. I have been labeled as “pretty for a black girl”. I have been called the “token”. The sad thing is that because I battled with owning my blackness, I let people say these things and treat me this way. . This is the most devastating thing for a women of color. TO SIMPLY LET OTHERS TREAT US THIS WAY BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO IDENTIFY WITH OURSELVES. We MUST fight for our black women and our people as a whole. As a human race, we are all the same. We all come on and leave this Earth the same way. We are one people. . Please stand with Simply Sisterhood in reposting/sharing this image and hashtagging #blacklivessimplymatter and tag @simplysisyerhoodco. . The Simply Sisterhood store will be available soon where you will be able to show support and represent all that the sisterhood represents. This design will be available as well. STAY TUNED! . . #blacklivessimplymatter #stopracism #womanonracism #racisminamerica #racismisreal #racismo #fuckracism l#racismisavirus #racismsucks #racisme #racismistaught #antracism #endracism #fightracism #againstracism #racismstopswithme #selflove #selflovemovement #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesalwaysmatter #blacklives #blacklivesmattermovement #blackpeoplematter #worldpeace #peaceonearth #selflovepower #loveyourself #selfempowerment #discoverunder5k #selfconfidence

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I created SHEICONIC to celebrate ALL stylish women. A community filled with empowering a multitude of women to show how everyone is uniquely different but yet we are created equally beautiful. God created everyone different for a reason, it’s essential to take value and show appreciation for the beauty of people.

There is beauty in diversity.

Even when you’re at the grocery store standing in line and you see someone of another race, show yourself friendly. Don’t be afraid to talk to someone just because they look different from you. Say hello and ask a question about their day. You never know, this small gesture may become a ripple effect throughout your community.

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STAND BY YOUR SISTER. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 Never let her go unnoticed. Remind her that she's beautiful and her spirit matters. Her words are important and her opinion is valid. Rise to the occasion and stand for her. Remember, kindness and empathy runs deeper than you will ever imagine. #sheiconic🖤 #sheiconicstyle . . SHEICONIC Illustrator 📸@deirdre.deer .

A post shared by Style | Body Positive (@sheiconic) on Jun 7, 2020 at 9:08pm PDT

Switch Up Your Feed & Content

If you’re a digital content creator, brand or business focus on including different people on a regular basis. Whether it’s through a collaboration, ad or promotion, we need to see various individuals in the same area.

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Diversity is Necessary. . Diverse WOMEN are necessary. . As we overcome the trials we,as a human race, are going through, it is important to remember the beauty and wonder in diversity. We watch closely as we see brands come forward and address their lack of color and different ethnicities throughout their campaigns. How easy it is to focus on one person and sell to that one person. But what about those who don’t look like that one person? . Each of us should be able to turn on a tv, open a magazine, read a book, walk into a store, and see people that look like us. DIVERSITY IS NECESSARY. . Tag a Brand that caters to all ethnicities, all sizes, and all types of women. . It is important to Simply Sisterhood that we are diverse and we highlight all women. . 📸 Shot taken by @nicolevillarphoto . . #selfconfidence #selflove #loveyourself #selflovepower #selfempowerment #selflovemovement #discoverunder5k #racisminamerica #blacklivesmatter #racismisavirus #racismisreal #fuckracism #womanonracism #racismsucks #stopracism #endracism #racismo #racismistaught #racisme #antracism #fightracism #againstracism #racismstopswithme #blacklivesalwaysmatter #blacklives #blacklivesmattermovement #blackpeoplematter #worldpeace #peaceonearth #blacklivessimplymatter

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One way to diversify your feed and content is by following people who are the opposite of you. This type of exposure makes you more interested in understanding the way others live and do things differently from your day-to-day routines. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the content they produce. For example, if you’re someone with straight hair and curious about the meaning of natural hair, kindly ask. This type of investment benefits you because you’re educating yourself about a new culture.

Donate to Black Charities

To help us become more prominent in the world, send money to funds that help raise awareness about black education and entertainment. For example, several charities focus on mental health and wellness of black people. Other nonprofits aim to sharpen computing skills of young black children so they have the same advancement to finding jobs when they graduate high school. Below is a list of some charities to contribute in helping to change our narrative in this world.

• Black Lives Matter
• Black Girls Code
• You Good Sis
• Pretty Brown Girl
• Black Arts Futures Fund
• Jack and Jill of America
• NAACP
• Black Table Arts
• Harlem Academy

Invest in Black Owned Businesses Too

If you are unaware in how to continuously support the Black Lives Matter Movement to induce change, adjust your buying behaviors. Start investing your money into black owned businesses. We have so many black men and women who are not only scientifically creative but business savvy too. Think about it, some of the most historical genius creations come from people of color, such as the straightening comb invented by Madam C.J. Walker or the traffic light developed by Garrett Morgan. Just think of more to come if we give people the chance to be great.

How to Support Black Owned Businesses without Spending Money

You don’t necessarily have to spend your money to provide some type of support. Even if you can’t afford the products today, give time and effort to help promote interest in the brands. Word-of-mouth is a gift in itself and the encouragement to try something new. Leave a comment on their Instagram page. Send the owner on Etsy a message to show interest and learn more about his or her products. Let these Entrepreneurs know they’re doing a good job too. If you see a photo you like simply based off the aesthetic or packaging, share it on your Pinterest board and Insta stories. Screenshot a product from the website and Tweet it to your followers. This type of promotion increases awareness and makes a huge difference for us.

Hopefully this post gives you an idea on how to integrate your support of the Black Lives Movement in your daily life for a sustainable change. To avoid previous deaths like George Floyd or Breonna Taylor, old patterns need to break. Let’s make everlasting modifications to how we see one another even in the smallest ways.

What lifestyle changes are you planning to make to support Black Lives Matter and change the way we see one another?

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