Constantly, we hear "Black Lives Matter," and from many others we hear "All Lives Matter." Many people say this just to blend in with the crowd and they really do not know the significance of the meaning.
I don't think people understand the world that we live in.
We live in a world where people will take the lives of children.
I recently was reading in the news where a 9-year-old boy, Tyshawn Lee, in Chicago was killed by gang members. He was lured into an alley where he was then shot and killed.
We used to be scared to let the kids go play with their friends in the park because they could get lost or even just have too much fun and never want to leave. Now, we have to be afraid that someone is going to take their lives.
Tyshawn will never know what it is like to attend a high school prom, get married, get accepted into college, or start his own family.
We live in a world where people will take other people's lives, while risking their own.
Over 300 people lost their lives across the world to ISIS and suicide bombings in November 2015. One of those people has a family that they were looking forward to seeing later that day. One of those people, was a college student, living her dream studying abroad in France.
Nohemi Gonzalez, lost her life in Paris, France where like many students, saved her money so she could be a Cali-Girl in France for a semester. She was shot and killed by ISIS attackers in France on Friday, November 13, 2015.
We live in a world where students' lives are threatened, due to the color of their skin.
Students at Howard University were threatened by the Former President of University of Missouri. Howard has nothing to do with the drama at Mizzou, yet they were brought into the loop after this threat.
All these students want to do is learn, yet they were still in danger by people they do not know.
We live in a world where the worth of our lives is determined by a gun.
The worth of Tyshawn and Nohemi's life was determined by a gunshot, where someone said, because of who they are, they do not deserve to be alive and continue their lives.
The question is, what do we do? Is there anything we can do?
Many have started by changing their Facebook Profile Pictures to the official flag of France, and posting pictures on social media saying #pray4paris.
Ladies and Gentlemen, that is not enough. We must do more.
Instead of changing your profile pictures, go into your community and raise awareness on these issues. Speak to your local politicians and demand change. They want your vote, so they will make a change.
Don't just "make noise," make a difference. Tell the world exactly what you want, and what the outcome should be.
We must start initiatives in the schools of Chicago to teach children stranger danger, who they can trust and options for their lives besides gang violence. We must implement policies in cities that require police officers to protect and serve the community.
Racism is showing in the classroom, workplace, and anywhere else you can think. Instead of standing by and allowing it to continue, we must think of the shoulders we stand upon and how can intervene. Silences speaks volumes, but actions scream!
Finally, We must start international initiatives and campaigns to protect citizens from ISIS and terroristic attacks. Osama Bin Laden is now dead, but it's time to take out ISIS.
America, stand up. We can do this. Let's not only protect us, but like other countries stood up and helped us in our times of need, let's help them as well. We are one. Black, White, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Christian or Atheist, we make one big melting pot.
We are the World.
