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BLM | United we stand
- BLACK LIVES MATTER -
As a Dancer, I wouldn't be able to do my job, live my passion and be who I am today if it wasn't for Black Culture.
Lissy-G-Dance stands in solidarity with the Black Community.
It is our duty as guests within Black Culture / as dancers / dance teachers, to educate ourselves, to research the true roots of those dances we're teaching and living. It is our duty to speak up. "Our lifes begin to end, the day we become silent about things that matter." -MLK jr.
I encourage every company to set a statement for the Black Community and against racism. It is our duty to show where we stand. It is everybody vs. racism.
Personal note:
"This goes out especially to my fellow dancers, choreographers, dance school owners, DJ’s, club owners, musicians, etc. from EUROPE & ASIA, who haven’t spoke up yet:
Let’s be clear: WE! HAVE! TO! SPEAK! UP! - AMPLIFY & UPLIFT THE VOICES THAT NEED TO BE HEARD!
Why? Beside the fact, that human rights violations should concern everyone,
WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN, GAINING FROM, LIVING OFF OF BLACK CULTURE! Including myself. Even if we -dance school owners- are “just offering that one HipHop Class a week”, or we -choreographers- are “just playing that one song inside a theatre piece” - we are already participating in black culture (& lets be honest - commercializing it).
Please don’t misunderstand: non-blacks, especially other POC are influencing the cultures of course. Don’t feel discredited, but still we have to realize that we are participants / guests in BLACK CULTURE.
JAZZ, ROCK N ROLL, BLUES, DISCO, FUNK and so much more is BLACK CULTURE. So offering Jazz classes? - SAME THING! Playing music at your Club? - SAME THING!
We don’t even know how much we’re gaining from Black Culture anymore, because we got so used to 'using' it. It’s crazy that this needs to be said, but too many of us Europeans don’t know the true roots.
We want to listen to the music, learn the dance, enjoy the art, eat the food, wear the clothes, make the money, etc., - TAKE. But at the same time we are not speaking up and standing with the Black Community while they are fighting a social crisis against white oppression? We CANNOT just benefit from the good and close our eyes, ears and mouths about the bad things happening!
So saying: “Well, I’m from Europe so I’m not a part of ‘the American System’” or “I can’t even change anything, I’m not even American” does NOT count as an apology to stay quiet. International pressure is needed. Not to mention that white supremacy is happening worldwide! It is our duty, as a guest within Black Culture & as HUMAN BEINGS, to act.
and please understand:
BEING SILENT DOESN’T HELP THE OPPRESSED, BUT HELPS THE OPPRESSOR!
Sharing an image on social media to show solidarity is fine, but has NO WORTH if we’re not willing to truly change within. Don’t ignore something because it makes You feel uncomfortable. Talk about it, admit it, ask, read. It is hard to realize the truth. And if You’re privileged, You have had a head-start. PERIOD. Even if You think You didn’t. For Whites “Privilege” sounds like something positive. Have You ever thought about, that Privilege is just good for those who receive it? If You’ve never thought about that, guess what - YOU ARE PRIVILEGED. Privilege is keeping us AWAY FROM EQUALITY!
“The white man can become so used to his privilege, that equality feels like oppression.”
If You’ve ever been a victim of injustice, You’ve experienced just a GLIMPSE of what the Black Community has to deal with on a DAILY BASIS!
- BLACK LIVES MATTER -
To the people who still think it’s necessary to say “yeah, but all lives matter though”. Yes, of course all lives matter, but saying “black lives matter” DOESN’T mean “other lives don’t matter”! - Drawing attention to something, doesn’t mean other social grievances aren’t existing anymore.
If I say “oh man, I love Nirvana!” does that mean, I hate all the other bands on this planet? - NO!
It’s not about excluding anybody - It’s about RAISING AWARENESS to that specific group of people -THE BLACK COMMUNITY- , who are SUFFERING under the system & fighting a STATE OF EMERGENCY since hundreds of years!
“Black lives matter” is NOT contradicting with “all lives matter”, BUT AS LONG AS BLACK LIVES DON’T MATTER, “ALL LIVES MATTER” IS JUST A SILLY TOOL TO DERAIL THE DISCOURSE! STOP THE “WHATABOUTISM”!
We have to use our voices, educate ourselves, catch ourselves in situations where we are receiving privilege, change our mindsets & behaviors. Do better.
“At the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” - MLK jr.
SPEAK UP!
I’m sending love, support and strength to everyone out there trying to make a change. Stay Safe!
Lissy"
Lissy"