Amber Ivy on LinkedIn: #sayhername #sonyamassey (2024)

Comparing the Impact: Black Lives Riots vs January 6 RiotsExplore the contrasting narratives surrounding the Black Lives Matter riots and the events that unfolded on January 6. Reflect on the terminology used, the extent of violence, and the aftermath. Discover the facts behind the claims to gain a deeper understanding of these significant events. #RiotComparison #ViolenceAnalysis #BlackLivesMatter #January6Riots #FactCheck #NarrativeAnalysis #ProtestCoverage #ComparativeStudy #SocialJustice #CurrentEvents

This is important to take notice of and change your approach to tears. Tears should not be a way to halt a conversation because the topic is hard & uncomfortable, compose yourself and continue. Do not be a distraction in the room. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to 'feel their feelings' in the moment because of intergenerational trauma. Crying was beaten out of thousands of children in residential schools. I have heard people tell their stories about how they refused to cry anymore in order to take the satisfaction away from their abusers. These kids were 7yrs old when they started to consciously compartmentalize for their own safety. They began to learn how to "mask" to survive.So next time you think the 'lack of a reaction' from a BIPOC is cold and unempathetic? Remember ☝️ that is the reaction we were taught by our ancestors. We are conditioned to respond differently to stress, overwhelm and anger. To me? crying is a privilege. I can't cry in any place and be taken seriously. If I show too much emotion it can be (and will be!) misconstrued as: - poor boundaries- mental health issues- lower capacity and - overall being incapable of the role. Because I am not afforded the privilege and benefit of the doubt that my emotions are valid and that I'm not a liability when I cry. If I cry - something must be wrong with ME and not the topic at hand.#knowyourprivilege#tearstodistract#tearstodetract#whatdoyourtearsmean

White folks, let's talk:In your workplace/community there are probably Black folks. Coworkers, clients, bosses, janitors, your bank teller, whoever they are — when you see them today, PAUSE. Immediately make time and pause, like you would on the shoulder for a hearse and a long line of mourning families behind it.You don't have to say anything.Definitely don't bring up the shooting.It's not like it was a once in a lifetime event. But do pause. How we got here comes from centuries of our parents, and their parents, teaching us not to pause for Black folks.To turn away and focus on our jobs.To "ignore it."To say, "There's nothing I can do about it," allowing our brains to dismiss the cruelty and go back to buying our groceries, or asking for that end-of-month report.To cut ourselves off from feeling empathy for Black people, lest we ourselves feel as constantly devastated, overwhelmed, and exhausted as they do.Our White parents taught us not to feel.Their parents taught them not to feel.Their parents taught them not to feel.Their parents taught them not to feel.Unfeeling people who are "just doing my job" are literally killing your coworkers' families and friends, regularly. So don't "just do your job" today.Pause today. Feel.Don't be afraid to get a therapist and talk about how it feels to feel feelings you've been suppressing for 400 years.This is how you can keep from becoming someone who does harm in your workplace as casually as you do your job. There is no shortcut to pausing.

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Normally I stay quiet about events involving the Black community, because a) I should be listening to and amplifying Black voices--as opposed to sharing my own commentary--and b) not my lane.But I also know that white silence is violence.So just FYI, I support and agree with the actions of the Black people involved in the situation in #Montgomery. Because if you think those white folks would have acted the entitled and privileged fools they did if the dock worker had been white, you're in denial. And before anyone smugly types out, "Violence is never the answer," I'm going to counter with sometimes it takes violence to STOP violence. Case in point: there was a seemingly ever-growing pack of white people attacking that poor man who was just doing his damn job. Do you think they would have stopped if a Black person tried to talk them down? What about if Black people just tried to get the white people to stop? Merely tried to get in between the white people and the man they were beating? I'm pretty sure even MORE white people would have jumped in--I mean, we've seen what happens when Black people DARE to protest peacefully. The only viable option for coming to their brother's aid was to wade in and meet violence with violence. Though I would like to point out, that when Black people wade in with violence, they are literally risking their lives.#BlackLivesMatter #Montgomery #FAFO

Exploring white fragility and discomfort through the lens of cultural consciousness 🧠. My bestselling book, 'White Talking Therapy Can't Think in Black,' delves into these complex issues, offering insights and empowerment. Discover more at https://lnkd.in/eZEcFiKJ 📖. #WhiteFragility #CulturalConsciousness #Empowerment #Inclusivity

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Recently, when there would be a big news story about a Black woman’s death by suicide due to bullying or murder by the police, I would try to elevate a dialogue about it. This seemed what the “standard” was, for my role trying to build equity and continue vigilance against creeping anti-Blackness. I was usually met with uncomfortable silence, deflections, and dismissal (literally).What a common and unfortunate perpetuation — at this point, many of us should be used to it. Today, I cannot watch the body cam of Sonya Massey’s murder. Just reading the transcript is enough trauma. My heart tells me that we, Black women, are not seen as humans, by so many. Let that sit with you, my white progressive friends. You may be one of the “good ones,” who obviously see me and women who look like me as human, but we are living in a world where this baseline is not a given. Carrying that realization is renewed trauma every single day. You, who have proximate position to white maleness (which is the seat of the abusive power system) please don’t take the Sonya story, the Pet to Threat recurring tragedy, or any other form of anti-Black woman harm as something to sit in silent comfort around. If you want more support and guidance on what you need to know and how you can start taking some sustainable steps, follow me. I’ll be sharing more. This is an appeal from the heart. If, God please, we have a Black/Brown woman president, each of us will have to act very differently, and challenge ourselves to do all we can to protect and trust Black women. Start today.

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What's your dream "I'm officially Anti-racist" outcome?To never be deemed racist again?To lose your Oppressive Muscle Memory in six months?What if I told you that those aren't your real problems? Because it's not. It's just your ego talking.What you really want is to be able to believe Black people when they disclose how people (including you) and systems enact oppression on them.What you really want is to learn how to listen intently without giving your colorblind insight that minimizes Black survivors.What you really want is to FINALLY take full ownership of the impact of your Oppressive Muscle Memory.What you absolutely want is the space to unravel the system that conditioned you to treat Black survivors as less than.I can help you with that. Click the link in bio/comments to learn more.#PracticeLiberation#AntiOppressiveAdvocacy#Cohort5

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Speak Our Truth is here to provide support and information for survivors,supporters, advocates, family, friends and all affected by sexual assault especially when it involves specific communities like black survivors, as with other survivors Black survivors require sensitivity, belief, and consideration for those affected. It’s important to approach these discussions with empathy, respect, and awareness of the complexities involved. If you have specific questions or need resources, I can try to help.

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This piece by LeRon Barton-written after the Buffalo massacre and horrifyingly continually relevant-is so important. "Aside from a hashtag, a short email, or a one day 'diversity workshop' discussing the most recent attack, there is no ongoing acknowledgement and very few accommodations offered to help Black employees cope with the deluge of racial tragedies in our country...Companies need to do more to provide ongoing support to their Black employees. We need more permanentbenefits and servicesthat we can use to aid our mental health. A place of work that knows what we experience outside of work, can andwillimpact our lives at work."Black employees cannot, should not, and must not be expected to "just get back to work" in the wake of yet another racist massacre. That expectation further exacerbates the trauma. #OrganizationalCulture #BlackLivesMatter #BlackInTech #DiversityAndInclusion #DEI #MentalHealthMatters #WellBeingAtWork--Thoughts and views are my own and do not reflect those of my current employer.

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