It Could Have Been Me: Interview with Stanley

Meet Stanley

As part of our anti-racism and decolonization storytelling initiative, CDLI sat down with Stanley, a key community member to talk about anti-racism and decolonization work. Note, the interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. 

Lionel: What does this work and the Black Lives Matter Movement mean to you?

Stanley: Anti-racism and decolonization work is trying to make a change. Trying to be part of history by making a difference to our society and community. To me, the Black Lives Matter movement is essential because it is creating awareness of the disparities in our social system. The lives of Black people and the day to day lives and things they have to experience. It’s what's happened to George Floyd and what happens to countless other Black people. 

It could have been me. It could have been me who would have had someone's knee on my neck. If we travel to the early 19th century or late 18th century, it could have been me who would have been lynched and hung on a tree. It could have been me who would have been part of what happened in Tulsa. It could have been me. I want to remove that mindset of “it could have been me” and instead make people feel safe, feel like they're part of their communities, have no fear of the police and have equal opportunities. 

That is why I believe the Black Lives Matter movement is trying to achieve. And that is what I tie into my work with increasing awareness and trying to impact change. It’s making people see differently than what you were taught when you were growing up. It’s helping them see that their actions or inactions affect other people, especially us, minorities. My motivation is if I can change at least one person's mindset then I have made a difference.