I am a contribution.

I like to think that my local coffee shop stays open and in business because I go to it. I support their  product, the way they do their work, the atmosphere they create. The time and attention I spend (and the money I spend) keeps them in business. 

With COVID-19, we can all start to appreciate how much this is true. The places that capture our attention and energy keep us coming back for more and are more likely to stay open over the long run. We make an effort to order out from the restaurants we enjoy. You might buy a gift card from a local retailer, knowing you will buy from them again in the future. Your actions create and effect the world around you, and your actions have power. 

It is also true that many of our actions support the discrimination of black people in our society. How do the neighborhoods we choose to live in and do business with affect the black community? How does the way our cities are structured, our schools designed, our financial markets created impact black lives? What about all of the media we consume, the TV shows we watch, the dreams we are told to dream, how do those impact our view and understanding of black lives? 

Just as surely as we contribute to the success of our local retailer, we contribute to the discrimination of black men, women and children in our society. It might not be intentional, but it doesn't have to be intentional for it to have an impact. 

The answer to this problem is not easy or clearly formed. It is a small step to know that you are a contribution. Knowing you are a contribution, you can begin to reflect on your actions and the way those actions reinforce what you would like to see in the world. 

Knowing you are a contribution, your contribution to supporting black lives can take many forms: attention, physical presence, donating, listening, sharing, supporting black businesses or artists. There isn't a right way to contribute, but there is a wrong way: thinking it's not up to you and that you aren't doing anything wrong.