“Now is the time.” It was always the time to speak up on injustice.

You can clarify that now is the time for those who haven’t already taken action or stood up for what is right. But now is not when it became right. It was always right.

“I can’t believe this is happening in 2020.”

Privilege changes with context and the same person can experience privileges differently in different circumstances. Lacking in one form of privilege does not exclude you from having many other forms of privilege. It is not a binary; it is a spectrum. As a Kenyan American, my experience of privilege as a Black person in America is different from my experience of privilege as an American person in Kenya. In a previous article, I stated that being able to be shocked is a privilege; to not be aware of the truth and to have ever been convinced that things were not “this bad” is to be removed enough from the problem.

Let me make it very clear.

The mistreatment of another person for any reason is not okay in 2020.

The mistreatment of another person for any reason was not okay in 1920.

The mistreatment of another person for any reason was not okay in 1820.

The mistreatment of another person for any reason was not okay in 1720.

The mistreatment of another person for any reason was not okay in 1620.

The mistreatment of another person for any reason was not okay EVER.

“I cannot be silent any longer.”

Remaining passive or silent on the oppression of anyone was not an option for any amount of time.

“This isn’t what America is about.”

Well, any historical analysis well tell you that this is exactly what America is about and was built on. That needs to change.

There is no location nor time period where any lack of empathy is acceptable. Not in so-called “developing countries,” not in the past, not in the future, and not in America.