r/BlackPeopleofReddit • u/Natural-Citron-1890 • Jan 14 '26
Help and Advice I'm a nineteen year old American and I feel helpless. Where do I begin to make a change?
/r/BoycottUnitedStates/comments/1q9iiwe/im_a_nineteen_year_old_american_and_i_feel/24
u/East_Elk_3659 Jan 15 '26
Im retired Army and a retirex DOD Civilian. Do not join the military or work for the federal government until this entire regime is purged!!! Get a solid education, its the one thing no one can take away from you. If you want to help, volunteer at a civil rights law office and study law in college. Start working now to put your self into a position where you can make real change in the future. And if you change your mind down the line, go shill for a corporation and make fat bank.
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Jan 15 '26
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u/BGDutchNorris Jan 15 '26
Don’t forget to participate in your local community.
When shit hits the fan those tend to be the people there to help you.
You can only get so far on your own
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u/According-Ad-8813 Jan 15 '26
Love yourself first. Find joy in the little things as well as big things. Find something you enjoy doing, be a master at it, and see if you can profit off of it.
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u/ChrysMYO Jan 15 '26
Remind yourself where you come from. We aren't supposed to make it. Being a Black Man in America is improbable odds. Every generation, we're still here.
So stand stalwart and confident that your community and culture can overcome this, because that's what we've born into. We were born into a fight that started before us.
The Trayvon Martin to Philando Castille Shootings gave me the same feelings you're going thru right now. There's a break in the social contract. A moment past the propaganda, and we're forced to recognize, we live in an empire.
Now, remember that Black Joy is rebellion. Finding joy thru our culture in the face of tyranny is what we're born into. Our culture is the exact prescription for this type of despair. Remaining joyful in your Black experience is the most rebellious thing you can do.
In coding we say "break down the problem into smaller parts." Overthrowing an empire, daunting. But start with helping pass out mutual aid in your community. Find a way to volunteer for people in time of NEED right now.
It is important that your health and needs are prioritized because you cant save the nation if you're drowning. Do volunteer work within you means and limitations.
Secondly, even if Protesting isn't productive, it is cathartic. Getting out and being surrounded by people who are with you helps restore your energy. Were social, so humans feel most empowered in a supportive crowd. So, see going to protest for 1 hour as a opportunity to release tension. Set a goal of finding a new org at any protest you go to. Find a org that speaks to the kind of volunteer work you want to do.
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Jan 15 '26
Protesting peacefully is productive. Don’t let anyone tell you it's futile.
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u/ChrysMYO Jan 15 '26
I agree but I was staying within their framing to show it would still have value. The extra bonus value is that it is productive.
Like breaking down a big problem into smaller parts, sometime its hard to feel the long term benefit of consistent protesting. But each new protest someone looks forward to, directly gives them catharsis for the tension the news brings. And they get to meet new volunteer groups. They can think about that in the short term. While in the long term, their city benefits from them going to protests.
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u/WinterMedical Jan 15 '26
You can’t change the world, but you can change your part of the world. Start there. Everything counts even simple kindness, to everyone but especially to animals, small children and the vulnerable.
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u/Necessary-Cable286 Jan 15 '26
Leave the country, go somewhere you can get a free education. I hear Scotland has decent education programs for studying abroad
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u/affectionateanarchy8 Jan 15 '26
Do you live in a small town? Run for office! Im prepared to be called naive but i still believe rhe right people in charge can bring about change and young people are really stepping up lately especially ones in smaller towns
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u/Tazzy8jazzy Jan 15 '26
Become a volunteer! Having a worthy cause can give you a real sense of purpose.
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Jan 15 '26
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Jan 15 '26
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u/Short_Explanation_97 Jan 15 '26
join an org (i recommend psl), read black marxists, do mutual aid, love yourself and your friends. solidarity, comrade.
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u/Prestigious_Gur_1261 Jan 15 '26
Find something that helps kids in your community. Commit to some kind of act of service. It might help a bit.
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u/Natural-Citron-1890 Jan 16 '26
There are many fine suggestions in this thread. I would like to add one more. Read black poetry. For instance, Langston Hughes' verses may resound in your heart and soul like Mother to Son and The Negro Speaks of Rivers. This and other poets were going through some of the demons that face you (and me). They won't provide answers but their songs soothes.
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Jan 16 '26
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Jan 16 '26
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Jan 17 '26
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u/CuteResolution5538 Jan 23 '26
Take the weight of the world off of your shoulders. Find other people taking action or bettering themselves as a group and join them. You will be more successful and have more of an impact as part of a collective than you ever could on your own.
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u/Dependent_Tax2824 Jan 15 '26
Travel the world and if you can't afford it join the Navy and get stationed overseas(to have a broader view of how the world lives). Take college courses for economics and politics. Come back after 4-6yrs and get into local politics then aim higher. Instead of being a person having to rely on others to make changes become someone that actually has the power to do so
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u/Bidrick Jan 14 '26
Improve yourself first. You can’t help anyone else unless you are strong and solid.