We See the Bloodshed

31/05/2021

This video was released in 2016 and was the inspiration for this week of mourning. Tragically, there are many more names to add to the lament.

Janelle Monae f. Jidenna, Wondaland RecordsHELL YOU TALMBOUT - (video)Directed by BlackIce BellStarring:Rio the RtistSupernovaShiloh BloodworthGrip:Chuck Si...

31/05/2021

Day 7: Memorial Day

*** Several Articles on the History of Memorial:

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_1545507?fbclid=IwAR2JmHuJTD79vxtk1b79bcGsp5ScX3Zxgi6dKSn0z4b2tpmsnnjh6Xc8jdU

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day;

https://today.cofc.edu/2017/05/29/memorial-day
-history/;

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2014/5/26/1301411/-The-Memorial-Day-history-forgot-The-Martyrs-of-the-Race-Course

*** Several Articles on the Experiences of Black Americans who've fought and died for this country

https://time.com/5852476/da-5-bloods-black-vietnam-veterans/

https://wwii.lib.ku.edu/?fbclid=IwAR0hfwrYKKgVCU7Fuc4Cvv5QFLltaKk6Twb4PtqyJdBz2vBWuGMJIFm2bCI

https://www.pbs.org/video/abolitionists-memorial-day/?fbclid=IwAR3PZiaflJvZ8jHtz7Oh_ommN7jYA_Y05egOMh3YhMhdIzSp9pCvs0bFrh8

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/armys-first-black-nurses-had-tend-to-german-prisoners-war-180969069/?fbclid=IwAR1ZGmzP3vFrk8zHD0lXkQWYtZq_NG2V1CLGF6Yv3HKG27fdg0yqwC2O1SY

https://www.history.com/news/memorial-day-civil-war-slavery-charleston?fbclid=IwAR2Qg_EOmqFPvT2QEwDppaTTjQFivpICLQK7XTAVk9P_1xIFTdo5WF0-F7U

https://www.history.com/news/gi-bill-black-wwii-veterans-benefits

31/05/2021

Day 7: May 31, 2021 Memorial Day

TODAY’S LAMENT: We hold space for Black Military and Service Personnel.

Reflect on loved ones lost who served in the military. Reflect on the Black lives sacrificed in defense of the United States of America.

Write down the name(s) of lost veterans, tell their story, or light a candle in their memory as we consciously hold space to honor and remember their lives. If you have not lost anyone, intentionally direct your thoughts, energy, and prayers towards the support of those who have.

To our lost loved ones you are cherished. You are missed. Your memory will be forever held within our hearts. We see the bloodshed. We will not be complicit. We will not be silent.

TODAY’S GATHERINGS:

Memorial Day Morning Unpacking | 10 AM PST: Conclusion of We See Event; History of Memorial Day, Honoring Black Soldiers. Zoom Meeting.

Candlelight Vigil at Local Recruiting Office | 7 PM

TODAY’S SYSTEMIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

“We see the Black lives lost in service to the United States Armed Forces.”

TODAY’S ALLY EXERCISE:

Reflect upon the different experiences of Black Americans compared to your own. Write down your observations and any conclusions you reach.

Dive Deeper: Research the Black origins of Memorial Day, the treatment of Black soldiers in the military during the Civil War (Union and Confederate), the WWII experiences of Black soldiers in the Battle of Bamber Bridge and the Park Street Riot, segregation at Arlington Cemetery, the exclusion of Black soldiers from medals of honor and GI Bill benefits, and racial disparities within the United States armed services.

30/05/2021

Day 6: May 30, 2021

TODAY'S LAMENT: We hold space for Black victims of su***de.

Reflect on the lives of Black loved ones lost to su***de.

Write down their name(s), tell their story, or light a candle in their memory as we consciously hold space to honor and remember their lives. If you have not lost anyone, intentionally direct your thoughts, energy, and prayers towards the support of those who have.

To our lost loved ones you are cherished. You are missed. Your memory will be forever held within our hearts. We see the bloodshed. We will not be complicit. We will not be silent.

TODAY'S GATHERING: Candlelight Vigil at Local Park | 7 PM Local Time

TODAY'S SYSTEMIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

“We see the Black lives lost due to undiagnosed and/or untreated or untreated mental illness and unacknowledged generational trauma.”

TODAY'S ALLY EXERCISE:

Listen to memorials submitted on the website Memorial Wall by Black Voices.

Dive Deeper: Read these articles on Black su***de. Research su***de rates and disparities among Black Americans in the United States.

https://time.com/6046773/black-teenage-girls-su***de/

https://www.sprc.org/scope/racial-ethnic-disparities/black-populations

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/messages/2020/addressing-the-crisis-of-black-youth-su***de

Ring the Alarm: The Crises of Black Youth and Su***de in America

https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/uploadedfiles/full_taskforce_report.pdf

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/10/986125468/study-shows-pandemic-tied-to-spike-in-su***de-among-black-people

30/05/2021

Day 5

TODAY'S LAMENT: We hold space for the Black LGBTQ+ members we’ve lost.

Reflect on Black LGBTQ+ friends and family members lost due to circumstances created by racism.

Write down their name(s), tell their story, or light a candle in their memory as we consciously hold space to honor and remember their lives. If you have not lost anyone, intentionally direct your thoughts, energy, and prayers towards the support of those who have.

To our lost loved ones you are cherished. You are missed. Your memory will be forever held within our hearts. We see the bloodshed. We will not be complicit. We will not be silent.

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RECOMMENDED READING:

https://www.thetaskforce.org/new-analysis-shows-startling-levels-of-discrimination-against-black-transgender-people/

https://www.them.us/story/black-lgbtq-adults-experience-severe-health-barriers-study

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/2020/10/06/all-black-lives-matter-mental-health-of-black-lgbtq-youth/

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TODAY'S LAMENT: We hold space for the Black LGBTQ+ members we’ve lost.

Reflect on Black LGBTQ+ friends and family members lost due to circumstances created by racism.

Write down their name(s), tell their story, or light a candle in their memory as we consciously hold space to honor and remember their lives. If you have not lost anyone, intentionally direct your thoughts, energy, and prayers towards the support of those who have.

To our lost loved ones you are cherished. You are missed. Your memory will be forever held within our hearts. We see the bloodshed. We will not be complicit. We will not be silent.

TODAY'S GATHERING: Candlelight Vigil at LGBTQ+ Youth Center or Local LGBTQ+ District (Fresnans, we were at Tower Theater) | 7 PM Local Time

TODAY'S SYSTEMIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

“We see the Black lives lost to intolerance and homophobia towards Black members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

TODAY'S ALLY EXERCISE:

Wear Your Paint out in public as you go about your weekend errands. Share Your Experience with those within your sphere of influence (family, church members, social media followers, etc).

Dive Deeper: Research the recent and historical violence perpetrated against Black Trans Americans, the contribution of the Black LGBTQ+ community to the Harlem Renaissance, and the impact of racism and homophobia on America's handling or the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

28/05/2021

Day 4: We hold space for the Black elder.

Today's allyship exercise and research prompts.

Link to the Pledge: https://www.weseethebloodshed.com/take-the-pledge

28/05/2021

Day 4: May 28, 2021

TODAY'S LAMENT: We hold space for the Black elder.

Reflect on the Black elders, oral histories, traditions, languages, opportunities, and cultural heritage lost due to circumstances created by racism.

Write down their name(s), tell their story, or light a candle in their memory as we consciously hold space to honor and remember their lives. If you have not lost anyone, intentionally direct your thoughts, energy, and prayers towards the support of those who have.

To our lost loved ones you are cherished. You are missed. Your memory will be forever held within our hearts. We see the bloodshed. We will not be complicit. We will not be silent.

TODAY'S GATHERING: Candlelight Vigil at Local School | 7 PM Local Time

TODAY'S SYSTEMIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

“We see the Black Lives lost from America's Historical Violence Against Our Ancestors and Leaders”

TODAY'S ALLY EXERCISE:

Read through the Pledge.

https://www.weseethebloodshed.com/take-the-pledge

Write your own personal pledge defining your commitment to anti-racism and allyship.

Dive Deeper: Research the historical violence perpetrated by the United States against Black Americans, read the original words of past and present Black leaders such as W.E.B. DuBois, Malcolm X (el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz), James Baldwin, the Black Panther Party, Fred Hampton, Medgar Evers, MOVE Philadelphia, Black Wall Street, Angela Davis, Maya Angelou, Ibram X. Kendi, and others.

27/05/2021

Day 3: May 27, 2021

TODAY'S LAMENT: We hold space for the Black child.

Reflect on the Black children lost too soon due to circumstances created by racism.

Write down their name(s), tell their story, or light a candle in their memory as we consciously hold space to honor and remember their life. If you have not lost anyone, intentionally direct your thoughts, energy, and prayers towards the support of those who have.

To our lost loved ones you are cherished. You are missed. Your memory will be forever held within our hearts. We see the bloodshed. We will not be complicit. We will not be silent.

TODAY'S GATHERING: Candlelight Vigil at Local School | 7 PM Local Time

TODAY'S SYSTEMIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

“We see the Black Lives lost due to the impact of chronic poverty and environmental racism in the United States.”

TODAY'S ALLY EXERCISE:

Contribute to a Black-Led organization or make a purchase from a Black-owned business.

Dive Deeper: Research racial disparities as observed in education, chronic poverty, wage discrepancies, environmental toxins, vestiges of segregation and redlining, housing discrimination and lending discrimination.

26/05/2021

Day 2: May 26, 2021

TODAY'S LAMENT: We hold space for the Black woman.

Reflect on the Black women lost too soon due to circumstances created by racism.

Write down their name(s), tell their story, or light a candle in their memory as we consciously hold space to honor and remember their life. If you have not lost anyone, intentionally direct your thoughts, energy, and prayers towards the support of those who have.

To our lost loved ones you are cherished. You are missed. Your memory will be forever held within our hearts. We see the bloodshed. We will not be complicit. We will not be silent.

TODAY'S GATHERING: Candlelight Vigil at Local Hospital | 7 PM Local Time (Click to find your local event)

TODAY'S SYSTEMIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

“We see the Black lives lost to Medical Racism in the United States.”

TODAY'S ALLY EXERCISE:

Take Harvard's implicit bias tests for race and skintone preferences found here: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html Are you surprised with your results? Process them with a trusted friend or an allyship mentor.

Dive Deeper: Research racial disparities within the United States' handling of the AIDS crisis, COVID pandemic, fetal and infant loss (all causes), maternal mortality (all causes), medical research and experimentation (Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Dr. Marion Sims "the Father of Gynecology", Margaret Sanger's views on eugenics, the bones of MOVE bombing victims), and racial bias in technology/medical equipment and AI.