Everyone becomes an activist when it is convenient for them. Everyone becomes an activist because it makes them look good in certain situations. Everyone feels the need to give their opinions on these senseless incidents.

I truly feel disgusted with this past week's events. We lost Alton Sterling and then Philando Castile. This just adds to the list of black Americans that died at the hands of police; the very people that were chosen to protect us.

I know that when it comes to sensitive issues such as this, there will always be two sides to the argument. The first side belongs to the people who want to see change. These are the people who put together protests and rallies and bring people together to stand as a unit. The people who see that black Americans are under attack and notice the injustice. They notice that the punishments are much more severe for a black person than a white person. These people are the "Black Lives Matter" people. The second side consists of people who deny that this is about race, who deny that cops were at fault for the outcomes of these incidents. Most notably, these are the people who you see shouting "ALL LIVES MATTER".

Let us stop there for a moment.

All. Lives. Matter. They do but at the same time, they do not.

I 100% agree when people say "All lives matter." They do! My life matters just as your life matters. All of our lives matter, they matter to our family and friends. However, at this moment in time, black lives are at risk. So when I say "Black lives matter" it is not to say that they are the only lives that matter, I am saying that right now they need our help. I am saying that right now, Black lives are being lost left and right and the number is too damn high.

There are 14 names on this list. This list does not include this past week's events. That is 16 lives lost and please do not think for a second that this is the only list. I can guarantee that there are more names and unfortunately, at the rate that we are going, the list will only grow.

Where is the justice? Where is the punishment for these cops? No, I do not consider getting administrative leave with pay a suitable punishment. I do not consider getting administrative leave WITHOUT pay a suitable punishment. Most of these deaths occurred from doing very basic human things. Tamir Rice was 12 years old and playing in a public park when he was gunned down. He was described in the 911 call as a "Black man with a gun." He was a 12-year-old boy with a toy gun. Sean Bell was killed before his wedding. This November marks the 10 year anniversary of his death. Alton Sterling was killed while selling CD's outside a store that he had received permission from the store owner.

Do we not see the problem? They were not doing anything that would call for them to be killed. Are black people not human too? The black community as a whole has fought for too long for their rights. To then have them be taken away one by one is absolutely disgusting. It is NOT acceptable. The only people worse than the cops involved are the media reporters.

They report it in such a way that they will bring up any little piece of dirt they can find on the victims and use that as a way to justify their deaths. However, they would not do that for a white person.

Example: When Alton Sterling was shot, the media immediately brought up the fact that he has a criminal record. They named all the different charges, when he got them, and any other information they could find. When Brock Turner raped unconscious women the media brought up his swimming record. Oh, poor Brock Turner! "He was such a good boy. He had a lapse in judgment." "Jail would be too harsh for him." Give me a break. This person actually committed a crime and gets three months of jail time. Sterling was selling CD's and because police got a call, Sterling is gone forever. So three months is enough for a white rapist and death is suitable for a black man selling CDs? Good to know.

Also, people want to point out the fact that Alton was in possession of a gun. Okay? I am pretty sure these are the same people that were fighting for the right to keep their gun not that long ago. So which is it? Gun or no gun? I did not realize that the right to carry a gun was race-specific. I thought when these people were fighting for the right to keep their guns, it applied to EVERYONE. Now that a black man has died, "well, he should not have been carrying a gun." Right...that makes..zero sense.

Most of my friends are beautiful, educated and unapologetically black individuals. They are just one step closer to becoming a hashtag just by being themselves. I am not okay with this. I am not content with living in a world where everyone loses their mind when a gorilla gets shot but turns a blind eye when a man gets shot just because he is black.

So please, do not respond to "Black Lives Matter" with "All Lives Matter."

Do not preach ALL LIVES MATTER with the intention to oppress.

If all lives mattered, truly mattered, there would be no need for a "Black Lives Matter" movement. If all lives mattered, black lives would not be at risk. They would not fear for their lives or for the lives of their sons, daughters, and friends alike.

I live in a state of fear in which I feel like, at any moment, the next hashtag I see will include the names of the people close to me. This should not be the way of life. All lives cannot matter until Black lives matter. Say it with me now:

All lives cannot matter until Black lives matter.