Y’all. I’m tired. This week has been hard AF.

Basically, Ice Cube said it best on Twitter.

It is impossible to carry on with business as usual.

To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time. – James Baldwin

I am the daughter of a black man.

The wife of a black man.

The niece of ten black men.

The cousin of I can’t even count how many black men and black boys.

The friend of dozens of black men.

But, if I were none of these things, I’d feel exactly the same way.

If YOU are none of these things, I hope you feel exactly the same way.

This morning, I was feeling particularly despondent when I woke up. It is sooooo hard to know WHAT TO DO during times like this.

I’m not Martin. I’m not Malcolm. I’m not a billionaire (yet). I’m not Diddy calling a “family meeting” via YouTube (but I darn sure ain’t inviting Amy Schumer when I do have one).

There will be think pieces galore on all that is happening right now.

I don’t want to add more empty noise into the fray.

But I do want to share with you what’s helped me answer the WHAT DO I DO NOW question.

Obviously, this isn’t an article about entrepreneurship, personal branding, or business. But, there’s no way that businesses and personal brands won’t be impacted by what we are experiencing.

And, hey, this is shontavia dot com and the last time I checked, that’s me. If you want me to “stick to sports,” #sorrynotsorry.

So anyway, here are my thoughts.

—

I’ve committed to integrating biblical principles into my business and life, as these are the first places I turn when I have questions.

I found the verse I needed this morning in an unlikely place….Instagram.

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”  Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)

I found a reference to the verse near the end of an Instagram post by Bishop TD Jakes.

If you are on Instagram, the full post is worth a scroll through (about 10 slides).

After I looked up the verse, I went and read multiple translations of it (the Message version…wow) and the entire chapter. The chapter speaks to a sinful nation, rebellion, and cities burned with fire.

Whew.

Verse 17 tells us what to do when we live and exist in nations such as these.

We must “learn to do good, seek justice and correct oppression.”

I don’t always understand everything in the Bible, but I got this message loud and clear.

This can sound pretty lofty, right? Seeking justice and correcting oppression?

But, your own personal actions don’t have to be something deep or earth shattering.

Last week, for example, Denzel Washington helped a homeless man in distress (the man was walking into oncoming traffic) and stayed with him as police arrived.

This was a small action of possibly life-changing consequence.

You may not know what your purpose in life is or why you were put on this earth.

But you can do some good.

I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Dr. Maya Angelou.

What is a fear of living? It’s being preeminently afraid of dying. It is not doing what you came here to do, out of timidity and spinelessness. The antidote is to take full responsibility for yourself – for the time you take up and the space you occupy. If you don’t know what you’re here to do, then just do some good.

Just do some good.

And, do not forget the last half of Isaiah 1:17. “Bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”

As my mother says all the time, there is really nothing new under the sun.

The book of Isaiah was written +2,700 years ago, but things are today are as they were then.  Look at the number of orphans, widows, and childless mothers that are being created right now.

The Bible implores us to support them and speak for them. I don’t have all of the answers right now, but I will take this guidance.

—

I don’t know exactly what to do next, but I thought activist and rapper Killer Mike had the most tangible, easy-to-understand suggestions I’ve heard thus far:

“It is your duty to not burn your own house down over anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house so that you can be a house of refuge during times of organization…”

And let me be clear, “your own house” doesn’t mean Target. Correcting oppression is not pretty. It is not always non-violent.

Sometimes this means cars may burn. Buildings may burn. Property may be damaged.

Property can be restored. Human life cannot.

“Your own house” is what is within your control. Your business. Your money. Your economic independence.

Finally, let me just point out that many of these actions are not riots. They are rebellions.

Rebellions are as American as apple pie.

Please watch this short clip for a clear explanation of the difference between a riot and a rebellion.

—

And, a special word for my non-black (and especially white) readers.

In the words of Rihanna, “PULL UP.”

Our issues are your issues.

In the same Instagram post I mentioned earlier, Bishop TD Jakes articulated, much better than I can, why this problem isn’t just a problem for Black America:

If you are a white Christian and you’ve said or felt that you cannot support these protests because of the property damage happening, please consider Jesus.

In Matthew 21:12-13, Jesus entered into the temple courts and turned over tables because he was angry at how people were disrespecting God.

Jesus would get angry when people were not being treated fairly and justly.

Now, does this mean people should be allowed to burn all buildings to the ground? No, of course not.

But seeking justice–in this age or any age–will not be neat and clean. Tables will be turned over.

Many of us rely on our religion during difficult times. I ask you, what do you think Jesus would do right now?

Would he focus on the loss of property or the cause of the property destruction?

Would he focus on why people have gotten to this point?

Would he seek justice for the widows and the fatherless left behind because of this ever-growing list of unarmed black people killed by the police?

Image taken from Dua Saleh’s album cover.

Would Jesus get exasperated about all of the outcry about black lives and reply that all lives matter, or would he be especially concerned about the subset of people in anguish and peril?

I remind you of Matthew 18: 12-14:

12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Jesus talked about caring for the entire flock, but also providing the necessary attention to a specific sheep when necessary.

The Jesus I know often called people, policies and practices wrong when they were wrong, even when they were friends, followers and disciples.

And he worked to eliminate those wrongs each and every day of his life.

—

Like I said at the beginning of this post, I’m. Tired.

If you are not black, and especially if you are white, I can’t tell you exactly all the steps you need to take.

Frankly, it’s exhausting to always be asked.

The simple answer is, black people want to live. We do not want to die doing the same things you take for granted each day.

I can’t tell you what you need to help make this happen.

But, these articles lay out some great insights and suggestions for you:

1. For Our White Friends Desiring to Be Allies, by Courtney Ariel, and
2. How do I make sure I’m not raising the next Amy Cooper?, by my friend Dr. Jennifer Harvey
3. Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re Okay — Chances Are They’re Not, by Danielle Cadet
4. Beyond the Hashtag: How to Take Anti-Racist Action in Your Life, by Zyahna Bryant 
5. 11 Things To Do Besides Say ‘This Has To Stop’ In The Wake Of Police Brutality, by Brittany Wong

—

In this period of COVID-19, we’ve been talking about getting “back to normal” and redefining what “normal” even is.

I have no clue what the future will look like or how to even plan for some elements of it. But, I will use the lessons I learned above to shape each and every step I take.

If you’re looking for answers to your WHAT DO I DO NOW question, perhaps you can use some of them too.

—

SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO DO GOOD:

Donate to Bail Funds: https://tinyurl.com/y8838asv

Donate to Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/

From The Cut:

• Make ending police brutality a litmus test for your political support. Campaign Zero — which is also accepting donations — has a comprehensive guide to policies that aim to correct broken windows policing, excessive force, racial profiling, for-profit policing, and much more.
• Support the families of people killed by the police. Support the family of Breonna Taylor by signing this petition. There’s an endless list of GoFundMe campaigns (Google is your friend), but here are two for George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.
• If you choose not to join a protest, support protestors by providing supplies, including PPE.

Support any of the organizations mentioned in this article.