George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Botham Jean. Michael Brown. Philando Castille. Eric Garner. Tamir Rice. Elijah McClain. Ahmaud Arbery.

This just touches the surface. The list goes on. It is a painful list.

These names have served as a rallying cry for our community and allies to stand together to fight against systemic racism all over the world – even in the middle of a pandemic that continues to claim Black lives at a disproportionate rate.

As much as these names should serve as a rallying cry in the moment, they should also serve as a reminder that once the mass protests become smaller, we still need to stand together as a community. We need to lift each other up and educate our allies so they can lift us when we are tired. For the Black community, these protests aren’t a social media trend. They are the life we live every day.

I am a proud, black woman, and I am proud of our community and how we come together. I promise to do what I can to support the community in the long term.

That is why it is so important to get to know organizations that are doing amazing work within our community. If you are ever wondering how you can get involved and how you can continue to work to build our community up, find an organization whose values and beliefs align with your own.

Don’t give up.