Sigh.
Okay, let me just begin with a disclaimer; I don't pretend to know it all. Right now, we have been fortunate enough to witness people of all races band together in solidarity against police brutality, systemic racism, plain ole racism, colourism, and all the other bits that we need to address in society. All for the goal of black people to experience life without the disadvantage we endure due to our skin colour.
So naturally, we are more likely to question things that we used to side eye but do nothing. Okay we'd complain, but usually we'd not take things further. We are lifting ourselves out of the fog of 'status quo' and I'm here for it! Finally.
Today, an woman I know forwarded this message to me. See attached 
I feel a growing sense of murky territory evolving around me. Propagated by the forwarding power of our loved ones, are we in "danger" from all of these threats these messages talk of, or are we in danger of becoming too sceptical for our own good?
I want us to be in control of our own businesses, what we eat, what we sign up for, what we put in our hair etc. But I also want us to enjoy healthy attitudes towards... Everything.
This past month, my dad (hypertensive, overweight, diabetic) has decided that Covid is a conspiracy and he'll top up his immune system, go wherever he wants to go, and trust in Jah... Nothing wrong with all of that but can't he exercise a bit of restraint in the current climate? Must it be all or nothing? This is not specifically a black problem, but his was definitely born out of conversations with his peers.
5G is Covid, poisonous garlic, microchips as the mark of the beast... You know what I'm talking about (hopefully). I see all of this interwoven with racism and such, which amplifies the message. Some of these things may be true, what do I know... but when I ask for citation or sources, nothing, or a youtube video. Mostly, the ones who forward this stuff to me won't know where it originated. I had one man's panicked email (sent to me as a screenshot on whatsapp), saying that the gov are going to go into schools and vaccinate black children. We should tell our kids to say no. I had to think about it for a while, then researched the name of the dude who had written it, there's not much available about him, but he seemed to be a public figure of some kind. He even said in his email that he doesn't know the source. But the person who sent it to me really believed it.
I don't want black people to be misinformed, that's my main issue here. Many people I know have already said they're not going to get the vaccine, but not for the reason I'd assumed (too rushed, how do we know it'll work). No, it's because vaccines themselves are all unnecessary and evil. As long as we eat right, and exercise, we will be okay and Covid won't touch us (which is absolutely their right to do, but then I look at my dad and wonder).
So to conclude, I'm a sleep deprived mum so perhaps this isn't the most concise post, so my apologies. I don't want us to trust everything blindly and without question. I encourage it! But sometimes, I just sit and wonder how we balance misinformation/incorrect information with constructive criticism of the status quo to protect our people.
Of course, add your own forwarded messages if you'd like