BLACK LIVES MATTER

 | 
author/source: Lyvia Feraco

A country is the reflection of its leaders (at least whoever has the power to let that happen). Before I moved to the US in 2014, I never had to fear for my son’s life whenever he would walk out the door. Moving to this country, we never expected that gun violence and racism would be so “real” but it didn’t take long for us to find out with the local and national news.

Theo was 12 years old when we left Paris and he is now an 18 years old teenager with the social life and independence that comes with it.

I fear for his life every day and can only pray that God will protect him.

I was born in Madagascar and at 7 years old, I moved to Paris where racism is a major issue: to find a job, get a loan, rent a place, among other things, BUT NEVER until I moved here, did I fear for our safety and life because of our skin color.

Like I said, I was born in Madagascar, an African country and former French colony with what it implies in terms of the stigma of the colonization. I grew up, studied, lived, and worked in Paris almost my entire life. I traveled through Europe and other parts of the world, major cities but I never feared for my safety anywhere before.

With the escalating racial events in the US and the recent tragedies in the black community, I can’t help but think of the APARTHEID, and similar white supremacy and unacceptable behavior in other parts of the globe, and not so long ago in African countries. We still live in an era where black lives don’t matter, that a white person can attempt to take our life in broad daylight and hold the belief that they can get away with murder.

You can drive around with your son, see a black man jogging and think “hey why don’t we go on a black hunt & kill, then go home to eat popcorn and watch the game” like no worry in the world. And they have the nerve to call Africans or Arabian people savages!

But I have hope there are good people in this country, the collective consciousness has significantly shifted, especially after the coronavirus. This country has come a long way with leaders from each side, working hand in hand to shift the paradigm, individuals pushing the boundaries of exclusion and status quo. I want to believe that love and compassion will always prevail as it is what makes us human and that the present and future hold new leaders, activists, and advocates and we will rise together, more united and stronger as a collective, as one nation.

 

Addendum (Instagram post June 4th, 2020)

As the world is processing the recent racial tragic event, I (Lyvia) just wanted to share my piece of peace for @herself360. 
A message of hope for the futur that we are given the opportunity now to learn from another tragedy, to learn from one another in the richness of our diversity,  and Co-Create together, as one voice, one collective, one Nation for a better country and a better world for us and for the next generation. 
I know it sounds too idealistic for some people but I will forever, not matter what, keep the Faith & hope for change, just like individuals, leaders, activists and advocates did before me. 
We’ve come a long way since the “I had a dream” speech of Dr Martin Luther King, yet there is still a long way to go. But Dr King was right, and so was he when he said “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that”. 
But let’s reflect on how this nation was born versus where we are today:
- first there were Native Americans
- then for their safety, people escaping tyranny looking for a hospitable land arrived to built a better nation, a better and safer world for their families.
- what is the after-maths ?
- which values and principles shaped this country to get us to this point we’re at today?
 

And I will end with The Pledge of Allegiance

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

And to the Republic for which it stands,

US-FlagOne nation under God, Indivisible,

With Liberty and Justice for All”

Are we one nation under God?

Are we indivisible?

Do we have liberty and justice for all ?

Peace & Love to You All

 

Lyvia Feraco

 

click here for the meaning & importance of the Pledge of Allegiance*

 

*Source : BuzzleDotCom / http://images.pcmac.org/

Photo credit: David Peterson (Twitter: @Australiaunwra6, Facebook: @ausunwrapped)