Racial Tension and Violent Protest

If you are reading this today, then you have probably heard about all of the racial tension that is happening in our society right now, but this has long been an issue. As I sat to reflect on all that is happening in our society today, I now have come to terms with how my ancestors must have felt when they were beaten, raped, violated, and forced to work for free. Even writing this saddens me, because the truth of the matter is that many African American people today do not know who their ancestors are. You may be wondering why not? The simple answer is the slave trade. When African people were forced to come over to the Americas against their own will, we then became dismantled. We were taken away from our families, our home, our way of life. We went from being humans, to a price tag to sell to the next European that wanted to profit off of our free labor. This pain that Black people have suffered came way before George Floyd. We as a people have a history of suffering, but still being resilient enough to keep it moving even when it feels like shackles have been placed around our feet for generations to come. So why do we say that America is the land of the free? How are we free when shackles continue to hold us back like redlining, systemic racism, the killing of Black men, modern day slavery with incarceration, and the list goes on and on.

If you are a White American reading this, odds are you may feel uncomfortable. If not, that is great, but you may still feel like why do I have to acknowledge what happened before I was born. You may be thinking that everyone has equal opportunities in life. You may even be thinking that White Privilege does not exist, and if it did, it is a thing of the past. Slavery is over right? Slavery in the sense of forcing people to work for free may be abolished, but slavery still exist today. It exist because Black men are being throw in jail at higher rates than their White counterparts for the same crime, it exist because lower-income children of color do not get the same education as their white counterparts, which means there is a less chance that they will go to college and secure a job, it exist because Black men and women are being killed for non-violent crimes, and even being killed in their homes. It exist, because even after we see the video footage of the injustice that was done, White officers still walk away with hardly any consequences. How is that justice, and how is that showing that this is the land of the free? The truth is it does not, and Black people are tired of the narrative that continues to happen in our society. "I can't breathe" is more than just a White officer taking a knee on a Black mans neck." I can't breath" refers to all of the injustices that are happening to Black people both seen and unseen. This has been happening for centuries now, we just have the technology to show it on platforms that will stir up protest, and ultimately hold these people accountable.

As an African American woman in todays society, I am very much aware of the issues that come along with this topic called race. Even though it has been proven many times that we are all the same scientifically, we still allow the color of people's skin to determine that they are not the same, and because of this, should be treated differently and even dehumanized. Though I personally am not okay with the looting, burning down of buildings, and the violence, I also know that I cannot tell people how they should express their anger and rage towards these racial issues we see in our society time and time again. As an educator that is passionate about the brown faces that I serve everyday, I know that change needs to happen for the generations to come. It saddens me that parents have to sit down with their child and explain to them that they are literally a walking target because of the color of their skin, and here is a survival guide to race in our very systemic racist society. It is even something that haunts me when I think about one day becoming a mother, but I know that change will come if we continue to use our voices to hold these injustices we see accountable. It is not enough to complain anymore, it is not enough to stand by and do nothing anymore, but it is time for us to become strategic about how we want change to come. We must plan, discuss, work with organizations, educate ourselves to be in positions of power with people who make decisions on behalf of our communities, and most importantly we must stay true to ourselves to realize that we do not have to conform to a society that pushes White supremacy. Blackness is intelligent, Blackness is resilient, Blackness is what built the Americas, Blackness is strong, and most importantly Blackness will never be broken. We have come to far to give up now, so fight the good fight my brothers and sisters, and never give up on the vision of change!