rhetoric Archives

I’m trying to process everything that’s happening in the U.S. right now. The pain, rage, frustration; it’s infectious. Last week, watching the news, the protests and riots, I felt like I was falling.

Falling into an abyss of hopelessness. How many Black Americans have to die at the hands of police? This question has been repeating through my head every single day, over and over again.

In my last post “Life During COVID-19“, I talked about the growing tension emanating from the protests and riots and my fear that people would die. Sadly, people have died, people have been injured, and businesses destroyed.

What was weird, was that morning I wrote my blog post (May 30th) it crossed my mind about the possibility that there would be protests in Salt Lake City. I remember thinking, But would there be riots?

Yes.

On Saturday, May 30th, exactly one week ago. Salt Lake City had a peaceful protest that turned into a riot. One cop car was flipped and set on fire in front of the Salt Lake City’s Public Library downtown. Another car was flipped and set on fire, belonging to the man that shouted, “ALL LIVES MATTER!” with a bow in hand, arrow aimed and pointed at protesters at point-blank range. The protesters thankfully descended on him, preventing him from harming anyone.

I watched this happen, live, on the news. I watched the riot less than a mile away from my home for over six hours that day. And I had a hard time sleeping. My fear, my worry, my concern for my friends, my family was so overwhelming, I felt like I was being crushed. Worried about the people in my life I care about being brutalized by police, or worse, hunted down and killed by white supremacists.

What’s happened since then?

I participated in #blackouttuesday. I didn’t post black squares on Instagram, I didn’t post on any of my social media profiles. I chose not to even go on social media all day. It was a day of reflection for me. A day to reflected on my white woman privilege, and my duty to my fellow Americans to be a better person.

What do I mean by “better person”? I mean, an individual who cares for others’ well-being, who believes in fighting for equality and creating opportunity for those our system directly oppresses and aims to obliterate.

I tweeted the next day my experience reflecting on my white woman privilege,

Yesterday I participated in #blackouttuesday #theshowmustbepaused I did not post on social media, I did not even go on social media. I spent the day reflecting on the #protests #riots and the murder of #georgefloyd and countless other Black Americans, victims of #policebrutality

— Alina Happy Hansen (@AHappyHansen) June 3, 2020

All I keep thinking is, How many have to die before change happens? I can’t give up hope, and I can do my small part to be a better individual, to speak up, to have conversations on race, and strive for making change in day to day interactions. #blackouttuesday #georgefloyd #BLM

— Alina Happy Hansen (@AHappyHansen) June 3, 2020

My senior year of college, I was sickened by the consistent graffiti and posting of white supremacists propaganda on the U of U’s campus. I deconstructed and analyzed white supremacist rhetoric in this essay https://t.co/lTunInCWru #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd

— Alina Happy Hansen (@AHappyHansen) June 3, 2020

Words are powerful. Rhetoric is powerful. We can make change happen on the most basic levels of communication, our conversations with others, our friends, our families. We need to have conversations, utilize words as tools to build a better future. #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd

— Alina Happy Hansen (@AHappyHansen) June 3, 2020

As a white woman, I recognize my white privilege, my privileges as a woman. I ask, What can I do to make the future better, how can I utilize my words, my rhetoric to be a better ally, and inspires others to take action? #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd

— Alina Happy Hansen (@AHappyHansen) June 3, 2020

I encourage white women to reflect on their privileges. We cannot advocate for women’s rights, equality, spout feminist rhetoric, if we ignore our fellow Black Americans as they continue to suffer and die from the plague of systemic racism. #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd

— Alina Happy Hansen (@AHappyHansen) June 3, 2020

Since Trump was elected, not a day goes by that I don’t acknowledge white women put him in office. I cannot express enough how devastating this is to me. This action does not reflect all of us. Do not give up hope. Keep fighting. Stay strong. #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd

— Alina Happy Hansen (@AHappyHansen) June 3, 2020

Change starts at the most basic level, speech. Wise words from one can inspire others and change the world. We must obliterate the social taboo of discussing racism, we must have these conversations daily. Use your words, your rhetoric, speak up. #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd

— Alina Happy Hansen (@AHappyHansen) June 3, 2020

I feel strongly about the events that are happening all across the U.S. right now. The timing of it all, I think, makes sense. The devastation of the spread of COVID-19 across the globe, unemployment sky-rocketing, and the need for our society to dismantle and reconstruct core foundations on which the U.S. operates. This has to happen in order for the rotten roots of systemic racism to be pulled up and destroyed. We must strive for a future where Black Americans can flourish and prosper in safety and security. We must continue to fight.

If you’re still with me, here are some resources, recommended reading, and petitions that are important,

Salt Lake City peeps! BLM Utah Next scheduled BLM Peaceful Protest in SLC!

Anguish and Action

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