“Timeout is a form of behavioral modification that involves temporarily separating a person from an environment where unacceptable behavior has occurred. The goal is to remove that person from an enriched, enjoyable environment, and therefore lead to extinction of the offending behavior.”
We are black women from across the United States of America with a divine love for our black families and communities. #LivingWhileBlack finds us:
- paying law enforcement to murder our unarmed family members,
- electing politicians who take us for granted and sell us out by passing bills like ‘Blue Lives Matter,”
- watching a white supremacy president and administration launch an open attack on us and unleashing white aggressors on our community,
- seeing most of the gains made by our ancestors and civil rights leaders over decades reversed in less than 12 months,
- witnessing our right to be human beings and citizens of this democracy being questioned everyday by non-blacks; and
- watching NFL owners arrogantly tell our black men they no longer have first amendment rights while in their employment.
To all of this we say “It’s Timeout for the United States of America!” This country needs time to reflect on the importance of black people – past, present and in the future.
From July 1 through July 7, 2018, we are putting the United States of America in timeout as the country celebrates Independence Day. A celebration, like the national anthem, that does not reflect the experience of blacks in this country. Since money is the only language the United States of America understands, for one week we will not spend a dime with retailers across this country unless they are 100% black-owned.
We are black women and we must lead the way. From July 1-7, 2018, we will make sure our families do not spend any money in non-black businesses — in person nor online.
During these seven days, we – the black community – will:
- come together to celebrate each other,
- learn our proud pre-America history,
- address our internal issues including violence against each other, prejudices and colorizing,
- develop strategies to use our economic power to put the United States of America in timeout on all major holidays until this country shows us that #BlackLivesMatter starting with holding law enforcement across this country accountable for killing unarmed black people and developing an atmosphere of ‘no tolerance’ for abuse of power.
We — black women, our children, our men, our family members — will not attend any July 4th events, concerts, baseball games, water parks, paid activities, retail shops, online shops, etc. unless they are 100% black-owned businesses.
We are calling on all of our black sisters across this country to galvanize your family, friends and non-black allies in supporting us and joining this movement!
Enough is enough! #ItsTimeOut for the United States of America!
Peace and blessings,
Zaimah Abdur-Rahim, BeJai Aido, Renee Moses
