1+1=2
Fuel + A Match = A Fire
Warm, moist air + Cool, dry air= A Tornado
This is the way that the universe operates. For every action there is a reaction. For every cause there is an effect. We as black people have tried to solve the equations of oppression and racism but have continuously gotten incorrect answers.
We’ve tried to protest peacefully only to log on to Twitter to learn that countless protesters were doing just that but were still snatched up and thrown into jail without reason.
We’ve tried to read up on the law and know our rights only to turn on the news to discover that Sandra Bland was violated despite of, which led to her wrongful detainment and death.
We’ve opted out of being peaceful and rioted only to view surveillance footage of police officers shooting our men and children before they’ve even had the chance to put their cruisers in park.
Every sum, difference, product and quotient that we have attempted to use as the answer to put an end to the injustices that we face have failed to balance out the equation. It’s not because we’re no good at math. It’s because the hands of racist, white Americans erase the equation and pencil in a new problem before we can come to a solution. We are informed of more tragic news before we can fully take in the most recent injustices.
The back to back daily killings left me drained. It has taken me nearly a week to come down from the emotional disturbances of losing so many people of color to the bullets of reckless police officers. I was unable to sleep peacefully because my worry stricken heart flooded my mind with thoughts of my black son and my black brothers. I spent one morning clinging to my small, Black child as I silently cried. I spent another morning sending lengthy messages to my brothers reminding them to be smart, be safe and pray without ceasing. I had fallen mentally and emotionally vulnerable because my mourning paired with the fear of one of my loved one’s or myself being next plagued my typically positive thoughts.
I watched the tweets flood my Twitter timeline as the tragedy in Dallas unfolded. I sat there emotionless. All of my sadness, tears and energy had been devoted to Black people who had been gunned down+ throughout the past few years. My mind moved but my heart did not follow. I understood that what was happening was wrong, devastating, extremely unfortunate and sad. I also understood why it was happening. For every action, there is a reaction. For every cause, there is an effect. The actions of endless racism and police brutality within the U.S. caused a pissed off, tired, black person’s reaction of slaying unsuspecting police officers.
Time after time again, Black people are invited to speak on major news networks to serve as a voice for the Black community and it goes bad unsurprisingly quickly. Instead of allowing us to use the platform as an opportunity to shed light upon the outsiders looking in, the news anchors turn the segment into a debate and find it their unnecessary duty to further criminalize black victims and defend their privileged race. Once those interviews make it to the internet you can find an audience of White racists in the comments giving justifications for an innocent Black life being stolen and providing support to the thief getting away with it.
White America wants us to be sympathetic towards the loss of “blue lives” but show not an ounce of sorrow when people of color are beaten to death, hung or gunned down in cold blood. They want us to dig into the depths of our constantly mourning hearts and find a way to mourn for the people killing off our loved ones. I think I’ve gotten my point across for the most part but I will conclude with one simple question:
When a criminal is found guilty and is sentenced to the death penalty, does the victim’s family mourn his death?
