Yet another innocent life has been taken due to police brutality and countless more. If you don’t know what I’m talking about then you can Google Alton Sterling you’ll find the video of where he was wrongly shot six times by a police officer while being arrested. This is becoming an every day norm in America and this shouldn’t be. It seems as if the only time America has an interest in black people is when it involves some kind of sport. Which leads me to this - in the words of Marvin Gaye's song, “What’s Going On?”
Marvin Gaye released the song "What's Going On" in 1971 and here we are in 2016 and there is a lot of truth to this song still today. It feels as if we're fighting another Civil War. I never thought that I would live in a time of so much injustice and inequality. Far too many innocent lives have been taken. There are far too many mothers crying. Far too many of our black men and women are dying due to negligence and hatefulness of police officers. And why do they continue to do this? Because they know they can get away with it. It's not fair that the only punishment cops seem to be receiving after committing such heinous crimes is paid time off from work or just simply put on desk duty. We need to find a solution. Let’s talk about it and become the solution. We as a nation shouldn’t turn our backs and pretend like it’s not an issue. If you’re not a part of the solution, you’re a part of the problem. When you see #BlackLivesMatter hashtag on social media don’t try to devalue it with #AllLivesMatter; yes, all lives matter but not all lives are being taken by the same hands that swore to serve and protect us. Instead, join the conversation and try to help find solutions. We need to try and find a way to bring love back because hate is not the answer. When we as a people decide come together then will we know peace. Trying to solve violence with more violence isn't going to help either. You don't have to be a politician, celebrity or someone with a lot of followers on social media to make an impact. But, in the words of Jessie Williams, "If you have no interest in equal rights for black people, please do not make suggestions to those who do, sit down." It's our American duty to make sure that there is liberty and justice for all. I challenge you to speak up and join the conversation, what's going on in Baton Rouge? What's going on in Dallas? What's going on in Minnesota? What's going on in America? #WhatsGoingOn?
