ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER!

These past few weeks have been emotionally draining for us as the black community. Apart from having to deal with the usual invisible systemic racism we face on a daily basis, we've also had to deal with blatant racism which has resulted in many deaths in our community. Collins Khosa and George Floyd are just two of the names of people that have lost their lives due to this racism which has resulted in the outrage and outcry in the black community. However, it has also made me realise that it is important to reiterate that ALL black lives matter and not just those of cis gender, heterosexual black men.

About a year ago, I published blog posts regarding the femicide in South Africa after Uyinene Mrwetjana's murder and how the justice system isn't doing enough. Fast forward to today, Tshegofatso Pule -who was pregnant at the time of her murder, was stabbed and lynched by a man who clearly has no humanity whatsoever. What does the justice system promise to do? They promise to deal with the matter and "amend" certain laws that could be course for the escalating femicide in South Africa. My point in this is that there isn't an apatite when it comes to dealing with injustices against black women, children and the queer people within the black community.

Yes, there has been an outcry about Tshegofatso's murder on social media but it's not as intense as the kind of outcries we have for black men as a community. Apart from black women being murdered, we also have black immigrants being murdered here in South Africa and in other countries due to xenophobic attacks. If black lives matter, why aren't we advocating for black immigrants' rights? Why is homophobia so prevalent in our community? Why are queer people being murdered and discriminated against by people in our own community?

We as the black community have to be consistent and genuine when we say "black lives matter." We can't only advocate for the black lives of a particular group and expect the rest of the world to support the course.

Last but not least, I want all black people to understand that any form of discrimination within our community promotes disunity. Disunity in our community promotes white supremacy since it divides us making it easier to conquer over us. Protect all black lives because all black lives matter!