As a Black woman, I would feel remorse not speaking on such a pressing matter sweeping the African American community and the nation. The videos on the news and social media have not only been horrifying but downright draining. I don’t feel safe outside and hell I don’t feel safe even in my own home. It wasn’t until I was contacted by one of my coworkers (that is not Black) that I realized that some people really have been naive to the struggle of African Americans today. I’m grateful that she was so brave to reach out to me to learn and become an ally, but I had to make my point clear that being Black in America today is starting to look mighty similar to being Black in the 1950s. All of this is causing tough conversations with my family, especially my grandparents, about our parallel experiences.
In 1969, after segregation was abolished (let’s make that very clear!), my Grandmother was a High School student in Houston, TX. She and her Black peers decided to protest one day by staying in the cafeteria, instead of going to their first-period class, simply because administration/parents still did not want the Black children to sit with the White children at lunch. As soon as the administration realized what was going on with the protest, a line of police was outside with huge guard dogs to reprimand the UNARMED Black students. Fast forward to 2020, it’s sad that not much has changed. Cops are still killing Black men and women left and right in the streets without probable cause, and each day I pray that I never have to see it happen to one of my friends or family members. I respect and appreciate all of the peaceful protesters, but it hurts to see some of the protests have been ruined with tear gas, rubber bullets and now seeing lynchings occurring the past few days! Enough is enough! If you don’t agree or don’t feel an ounce of remorse you need to check yourself – PERIOD!
The biggest takeaway I’ve gathered from all of this is evaluating my own life experiences growing up Black in America. I would be lying if I said I never experienced racism firsthand. I grew up around white privilege practically my entire life and like some Black families, mine wanted me to learn how to navigate through it early on. I was taught not to see color, but character and by the age of six my mother taught me the meaning of double minority. I was taught to work harder than most because I’m Black and a Woman! As I grew older I realized that I matured faster than some of my white counterparts, and in my opinion, probably because they never had to have a similar talk with their parents. They could live life carefree while I have to watch every move I made.
As a Black community, we have been tired of inequality for too long. It’s now 2020 and I’m tired of all of it and frankly, you should be too. Sign these petitions if you want change to come in America + make sure you go out and vote! Make your voice heard!
Petitions for Change
Change.org (Link to all Black Lives Matter petitions)
