Trayvon Martin. Michael Brown. Tamir Rice. Eric Garner. Freddie Gray. Sandra Bland. Philando Castile. Walter Scott. Alton Sterling. John Crawford III. Antonio Martin. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd. Ryan Twyman.

And so many more.

I remember being only 10 going on 11 years old watching my mother and grandmother cry because a young black kid was walking home wearing a hoodie and was killed. His name was Trayvon Martin. That night was my first taste of reality.

 I learned that people that look like me are on constant watch and we are always walking on thin wire. One wrong move and I might end up just like that young black kid. I remember the pain I felt: it was almost like losing a brother, but how could that be? I had never met him and he didn’t even know my name. All I knew was that he looked like me and was around my age. 

I feel that same pain with the recent murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery; it’s almost like we’re connected. I found myself in full blown tears crying as they both cried out for help in the videos of their murder. The videos are on constant replay in my head, and some nights I don’t sleep because I know that could be me. 

From birth, us African Americans are automatically 10 steps behind our white counterparts. We are told we have to work “10 times harder” and to “watch our surroundings.”  Can you imagine living life knowing that your skin color is automatically a weapon? I’m trying to understand how being born a different shade deems us as a threat to white America. 

My people are under constant attack, and it’s seems like nothing we do is good enough. We made it all the way to the White House only for people to say we aren’t equal. 

My people didn’t ask to be here. We were brought here in bondage, chained together like animals, and forced to work. At times I wonder, “Do they fear our color or do they fear our power?” 

Black men that are killed are everyday citizens, just trying to make it in life. How are we supposed to feel safe knowing that the people are are supposed to serve and protect us are killing us? Whether we are just being kids (Tamir Rice), being pulled over for a routine traffic stop (Sandra bland), eating ice cream in our own apartment (Botham Jean), just sitting in our on homes (Atatiana Jefferson) or maybe just wanting to go to church (Charlston 9).

We can do no right and being black in America is something we carry that on our hearts 24/7, as if being followed in the department store isn’t enough. Things need to change. I’m sorry we’ve been silent too long, but it’s time to make SOME NOISE and stand up for what’s right.

BLACK LIVES MATTER today, tomorrow, and everyday after that. 

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“It’s dope to be black until it’s hard to be black.” – The Hate u Give 

“You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining.  You make progress by implementing ideas.” – Shirley Chisholm