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We are living through difficult times. We have been facing a pandemic that has changed life as we know it. We’ve also seen an incredible uprising against injustice. The Black Lives Matter movement has gained enormous amounts of Support from people around the world. All 50 states and 18 countries in total have held protests. One teen in Buffalo, New York decided to do something nice for his community just because it was the right thing to do and he was repaid in kindness.
Antonio Gwynn Jr. is an 18-year-old high school senior. After protests in his hometown of Buffalo, he noticed there was a lot of trash and some damage on the streets. (It’s important to note that there has been some violence in some states and there has been rioting and looting but protestors are not doing that. They are marching and taking a stand peacefully.)
Gwynn grabbed some trash bags and a broom and decided to clean up his town. He started cleaning up at 2 am on Monday and kept cleaning for 10 hours. He was all alone but that didn’t stop him. He cleaned up glass and garbage from the streets because he wanted people to make it to work safely in the morning.
His kind actions have not gone unnoticed. His community was so grateful for what he did. A man named Matt Block saw that Gwynn had been asking for advice on car-shopping online. Block barely drove his prized 2004 red Mustang convertible but didn’t want to sell it, he had the wonderful idea of gifting it to Gwynn!
Then a local businessman Bob Briceland gifted Gwynn a year of free car insurance! And it continues getting better: “Medaille College in Buffalo offered him a full scholarship where he plans to study business starting this fall!”
Gwynn has often done community service and said cleaning up the streets was something his mother would have done. It’s wonderful how his community came together to thank him and show this young Black man that they appreciate him!
If you want to take action and stand against injustice, here’s what you can do:
Many organizations like Black Lives Matter, Color of Change, and the NAACP are working to empower black Americans and achieve justice for those impacted by racist systems.
Also, remember to register to vote if you haven’t already. This is one of the simplest ways to make your voice heard as a citizen. Here are some resources for you:
Places to Donate:
- Donate to Black Lives Matter here.
- Get involved with your local BLM chapter: The full list is here or start your own.
- Many protestors are getting arrested and being held. Donate to bail funds in your city, here or here.
- HBCUBuzz has a listing of lawyers and legal resources for protestors, organized by state.
- Resources and donations by the National Police Accountability Project.
- Learn about Campaign Zero, which works to end police violence in America.
- The New York Times has put together an anti-racist reading list.
- National Black Bailout Fund, which works towards ending systems of mass incarceration and freeing imprisoned black mothers.
- Visit Louisville Community Bail Fund to contribute towards bail for protesters in Louisville.
Petitions to Sign:
- Justice for George Floyd
- Petition to end medical racism
- Justice for Breonna Taylor
- Justice for Ahmaud Arbery
- Justice for Tony McDade, Black trans man killed by police
- Sign the “Justice for George Floyd” petition on Change.org
- Color of Change launched a petition asking that all the officers involved in Floyd’s death are brought to justice.
For a more extensive resource list, please see the collection put together by Black Lives Matter.