There are so many native people in my Facebook saying anti-black racist things in regards to the ferguson protests. They are saying the black people protesting are proving they are ghetto, that Americans are tired of their shit, that Mike Brown’s murder was justified, and that they support Darren Wilson. Almost all of these people saying this are dark skinned native peoples or not white passing native peoples. This is terrifying. Anti-blackness is prevalent in native communities. I keep seeing posts about native peoples being in solidarity with Ferguson, but are we?
there are many children in Ferguson, MO, (and sadly, all over the world) experiencing and witness acts of racism, violence, and oppression; this can be very traumatic.
children who are experiencing traumatic events need:
- consistency: normalized schedules, family rules still apply, predictability, trust that some things will always be the same. chaotic events can leave some children feeling even more anxious, they may start fearing that they won’t be fed, they won’t get to play, they won’t be held, etc, keeping those practices will help to ensure the child that they will be okay.
- patience: children act up more when their needs aren’t being met, and children can sense when their loved ones are scared/nervous.
- understanding: children need to explain what they are feeling, they need to be recognized, and they may need help describing what they are experiencing.
- reassurance: they need to be reminded that you love them, that you’ll keep them safe, and that things will be as normal as possible under the circumstances.
Makeshift Tear-Gas Mask
(via lafwayfway)