Police brutality is something even the youngest of kids know about: and that's not something that should be true. The reality is that the violence against black people in general via the police specifically, is NOT right. So what can we do to change it?

This past week, the University of Dayton sponsored an event where 20 students were able to attend an exclusive early showing of the new movie "The Hate U Give". Having already read the book, I knew what was coming. I knew that it was going to be an emotion-filled thought provoking movie. It exceeded those expectations.

The movie itself is worthy of every award possible. There were many times throughout the showing that I found myself shedding tears and opening my eyes wide to the reality of what people in the world are really like. As I sat next to my roommate while she cried harder than I've ever seen her cry, my eyes were opened even wider.

"The Hate U Give" had one quote that really hit home. It said, "At an early age I learned that people make mistakes, and you have to decide if their mistakes are bigger than your love for them." They also said, "Reasons to live give you reasons to die." Thinking of these two quotes as I'm evaluating my life and the decisions I've made, I am really focused on the bigger picture. I am thinking of the world in general. More specifically, I am thinking of how in the world I can change it.

I sat in that movie theatre imagining every single person I love being in the position of the other side of police brutality. My heart swelled with grief thinking about the many amazing people I know that could get killed for no reason at all. It made me really think about the world we live in today.

"The Hate U Give" opened my heart to listen. Not my ears, my heart. The movie itself showed the implications of the very idea of police brutality on an entire family and as I sat there with my roommate crying next to me, I realized then how close to home the reality of those situations really are.

It made me really wonder how the world has become this way. I thought all night about this until I realized that it's because all people are only living in a white man's world. And not enough people are speaking out about it. Not enough people are using their voices to enact change. How can change happen if you stay silent?

The truth is that after seeing that movie, I became enraged. I felt an anger deep in my chest that I had never felt before. I began feeling angry and disgusted because I realized how unbelievably unfair it was that those close to me had to experience these traumatic realities just because others won't change their mindsets. How is that fair?

How is any of this fair?

What I suggest, is that everyone go see "The Hate U Give". I suggest you all see it, become enraged, and then use that anger in a productive way in order to end this for once and for all. How many more people have to become hashtags before something changes?

No more. No more THUG LIFE: The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody.