The nationwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd have started a firestorm of activism. Crowds of people have taken to streets to support Black Lives Matter, many of whom are non-black.
“Seeing all those people there and knowing that people still care about what’s going on right now in this country. It’s nice to be reassured, you can look at the person next to you and know they’re just as passionate as you,” 21-year-old Ajani Torres of Oakland, CA, said about joining the protests. “I think our generation is just tired of what’s been going on that we have a lot of passion about it—and we’re so young, we have the energy to say ‘it can’t be like this forever.'”
YR Media and Latino USA bring you a discussion with four young adults from all racial backgrounds to discuss what it means to be an effective ally in the fight to end anti-Blackness, the role young people are playing in this new wave of activism, and the importance of “unlearning” long-held perspectives rooted in our communities.
Featured image by Philip Pacheco/AFP/Getty Images.
Great program..! It’s good to hear the young Latin X voices.. discussing these topic’s around race & allyship..I’m African American & an elder who has lived thru the Civil Rights Movements of the 50’s & 60’s..I have a home care person who is a Latina from El Salvador in her early 30’s..We have had discussions around race esp. around Black & Latino ..I know she has been raised to view” Blackness” a certain way..I gave her the a DVD as a gift of” Blacks In Latin America” by Professor Gates that aired on PBS a while back,to help her understand our interconnection..I did my DNA test & it showed I had a percentage from Latin America.. not a surprise..
America is changing demographically…I feel it will be wise in coalitions building across race, genders, sexual orientations etc. to bring about the birthing of a” New America” that will be inclusive for ALL..& this program gives me hope for that future… PS A wonderful documentary” The First Rainbow Coalition ” should be viewed..