His name is Brian. He is my brother. Brian Edmund Andrew, to be exact, and he is one of the 63 victims who lost their lives in the 1992 social justice riots.  My brother was killed in an officer-involved shooting where there were no iPhones, police bodycams, or other surveillance videos available. The Blue Wall of Silence prevailed when our family attempted to get answers to this senseless murder. Therefore, I have an intimate experience with the pain associated with the death of a family member at the hands of the police. I will not paint the police or other law enforcement members with one “broad brush,” however the need for reform preceded my brother’s death.  My outrage from this experience needed a civil outlet and as a result I discovered a practice that works for me in dealing with race realities. This practice has served me well, and I offer it to others who find themselves in untenable situations where implicit or explicit racist actions are espoused. Just imagine if just one of the officers involved in the George Floyd murder had just said something and/or done something differently. Just imagine if an officer serving with their units in the countless deaths of people of African ancestry had just said something or done something differently. I believe many of the deadly police interactions with oppressed groups would have been de-escalated with minimum harm and justice protected. Now imagine if … ... when your family member approaches or crosses the line of racism, you said something and/or did something. ... when your friend approaches or crosses the line of racism, you said something and/or did something. ... when your colleague approaches or crosses the line of racism, you said something and/or did something. ... when your neighbor approaches or crosses the line of racism, you said something and/or did something. ... when your cultural affinity group member approaches or crosses the line of racism, you said something and/or did something. ... when anyone approaches or crosses the line of racism, you said something and/or did something. Yes, we all must take a stand to eradicate racism! By saying something or doing something in the moment, we confront the issue directly. A simple “no,” “wow,” and/or “I’m out of here” conveys a message of disapproval, disagreement, or noncompliance with the conversation or act being perpetrated by the individual or group.  This act of civil disobedience will minimally send a message of defiance toward the actions displayed by social justice offenders. I am not asking you to escalate the situation unless it is called for, but to say and/or do nothing assumes complicity. I believe most of us do not want to be associated with harmful acts toward anyone, especially those from historically oppressed groups. 

The collective consciousness of social justice advocates, civil rights activists, and equity warriors will prevail if we remain relentless and diligent when confronted with societal and institutional racism. Assiduous activism is needed if we are to make institutional shifts toward how we treat people of color and others oppressed by current societal structures. The individual and collective civil rights of every human being is “guaranteed” in our Bill of Rights.  Let’s stand up for each other when injustices are present and not waste this momentum, energy, and inertia unleashed by past and recent civil disobedience of racist policies and practices. Say something and/or do something! Eric Dion Andrew, Ed.D., is a retired superintendent and CEO of Efficacious, LLC. He can be reached at diondrew@live.com.