My friends have been checking in because I’ve been silent about the current state of affairs on social media. I’ve been numb. I cried my way through most of last week. I couldn’t breathe. I checked on my son who lives in the throws of the protests in Philadelphia. I still couldn’t breathe. I talked to my 22 year old, very woke daughter to get her thoughts. When we hung up, I still couldn’t breathe. I checked in with my 14 year old yesterday to see how she was feeling about all of this. She grabbed my phone, went to my Instagram account and helped me post “black” for #blackouttuesday. I talked to my Dad to ask him “was this what the 1960’s were like?” He said “No. This is way worse.” I still can’t breathe. I woke up yesterday and asked my partner, “Is the country still burning?” He said “yes” and it was only then that I realized that what’s happening in our country is not a terrible nightmare that I can’t wake up from. So now, I’m ready to speak.
Systematic racism is not a new concept in this country, be it the police force, corporate America, education, healthcare or social services. The seeds of violence have been planted for 400 years. Every brown person has an experience or a story of racism. We witnessed George Floyd’s lynching in broad daylight, caught on camera and smart phones in Minnesota not in the back woods of some Southern town. They arrested an African American CNN reporter before they arrested the murderers. Cops pulled two black college students — from Moorehouse and Spellman — out of their car, tazed them and all they were doing was going to get some food. Dozens of protesters have been injured and killed — not looters mind you. Peaceful protesters.
My sleepless nights for the last 2 weeks didn’t start with George Floyd. It started with Christian Cooper just bird watching in Central Park and a crazy white woman using her racial privilege to call the police on him. There were likely countless other incidents of senseless, unjustified racially-driven incidents between that and the George Floyd murder. Mr. Floyd asked for his mother as the life was being choked out of him. I’m a mother. If one of my sons, brothers, father, uncles, nephews or friends were calling out for me in their last breathe and I couldn’t help them…it’s simply crippling — emotionally and physically. I’m just sick to my stomach. African Americans have historical trauma about being killed by cops and/or those in power. There are literally dozens of names that we can add to the murdered list but I won’t list them here. I will just post one a day until I’ve gotten them out there. This incident makes that trauma worse and no amount of therapy will cure us. Only fundamental change and real paradigm shifts in our country will begin the healing.
This is another stain on our country and the world is watching. It’s been open season on Black and Brown people for way too long. They took Colin Kapernick’s football career away because he took a knee during the national anthem to remind us that BLACK LIVES MATTER. My daughter took a knee before her volleyball games in college and when I posted it on FB, the comments were incredibly insensitive and ignorant. She took a knee because BLACK LIVES MATTER. And now, the police are taking a knee in solidarity with the protesters? DECIDE AMERICA. What do you stand for? What do you kneel for? What will you fight for?
At this time, I can’t help but think that this country chose a dictator over a woman to be their Commander in Chief. Shame on you for being sexists. Shame on you for being white nationalists. Shame on you for being racists. We wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t voted for a reality TV host rather than a seasoned, empathetic leader who wanted real reform on so many fronts. Let’s not make that mistake again.
Our “President” hid in a bunker like the racists punk that he is when he realized that the full weight of his divisive words came home to roost. Then he charged horses, sent tear gas and shot rubber bullets into a crowd of peaceful protesters so he could have a photo op in front of a church with a bible? As Joe Biden said, “[he] should open the bible and read it and while you’re at it, read the Constitution.” We are all Americans and are all entitled to the full protection of the Constitution no matter what race, creed, sexual orientation, religion…we are all due the same protections. We are watching the country burn because our leader is the devil incarnate. He wants a civil war. Let’s not give it to him. The world is watching us and standing with us. There’s been a rally cry across the globe — London, Belgium…even Syria. They asked someone in Syria why the protests. He said because “black lives matter just like ours.” That’s deep.
Perhaps George Floyd was on this earth to unite us all around a common goal — equality. Racial equality. Economic equality. Healthcare equality. Social equality. He brought the world together around these ideals and I hope his children realize that. His brother was a messenger for peace in the middle of complete chaos. I didn’t know him but I know him. I see him. I hear him. He’s raised awareness among people that wouldn’t have otherwise cared. Individuals, corporations, non-profits, small businesses and government officials are all calling for change. Perhaps the time is now. Perhaps this is the WHY we are seeking. Perhaps that’s what the 8:46 was for.
With all of that said, I feel a sense of hope. I have hope that our young people will lead us into change. The racial diversity of those who are peacefully protesting, that have been speaking up, putting pressure on local, state and federal government has been incredible. Our kids have been locking arms around school shootings and gun violence for the last few years. They don’t have the same blinders on or preconceived judgments as generations before them. They will not stop with incremental change. They want more. They demand more. They deserve more as we all do. This is how change starts. This is the tipping point. We have momentum. Let’s use it.
A word to all of the protesters across the country:
If you protest — either in person, online or just through conversation — if you don’t vote in November, you are complicit.
A word to the divider in chief:
This revolution is being televised. We see you and you will hear US on November 4th. Pack your shit and get ready to get out of The White House. That’s our country’s house. You work for us. You’re presence is no longer required. You’re fired!
Did I mention that we’re still in a pandemic? People are out of work. Kids are out of school. The stimulus money never got to the people that needed it. Small businesses may never recover. #VOTE #WearAMask #BlackLivesMatter #OneVoice
