Black Lives Matter

Can I be for real a second?

This country has never cared about us. Fetishized us? Yes. Cared about us? Absolutely not. And it is heartbreaking to constantly be reminded of it. Truth be told, every time I voice my rage about this, it sounds half-baked because I’m a white-passing Black person. I always say “we” because I am a Black woman, but I know that I will never experience the same feelings that those closest to me will. I’ve experienced this privilege first hand walking with either my mother or partner out of Walmart. But know that I say “we” with my entire chest. And I am still furious, because why can’t we breathe?

Why can’t we live?

Why can’t we exist just as free as white people?

Why do we have to constantly fight for our lives?

I want my people to be able to fucking live and breathe just as much as I can.

When my partner goes out of state without me, I shouldn’t be scared that I won’t be there to protect him and pray for hours that he doesn’t encounter the police. My top concern should not be that I won’t be there to be a human shield that makes him look less like a threat for just being Black in this shithole country. I should be worried that he doesn’t get in an accident, not that I won’t be there to possibly save his fucking life.

Why the fuck do we have to protest for days for the murderer to be charged? And why do we have to protest for days just to get even close to the right charges dealt?

Why can’t we exist in our homes, where we’re supposed to be the safest?

Why do we have to beg for murderers to be brought to justice?

White people can go out and “protest” a virus, like that’s going to make it go away because they want a fucking haircut, but we have to constantly fight for our lives? We have to constantly yell at the top of our lungs that our lives matter too. That we are people that deserve peace and justice and to feel safe regardless of where we go. That our spine shouldn’t automatically stiffen up when a punk ass bitch with a gun and a god complex wants to know why we thought it was okay to exist near them. No one should need to have alerts on their phone specifically for when terrorists are near them threatening their existence.

Why do we have to constantly check which companies care about us? Which companies value us? Which companies see us as more than a dollar?

No one should have to plead that their life matters. Because aren’t we human too? Don’t our lives matter too? Why are there still people that get offended when we say this? All we’re saying is that we matter. Why is that so hard for this country to grasp?

So, no, I don’t care about anyone that says “all lives matter” and I don’t care about their feelings. Fuck the police and all cops are bastards. Fuck the white people and companies that are trying to profit off our rage and say that these protests are aesthetic.

I encourage everyone to vote but also, if you can, be out in these streets protesting. If you go to protest, cover your face and any tattoos. Don’t wear jewelry or contact lenses. Write the number to a bail agency and emergency contacts down. If you can’t protest, share the news of the protests. Do NOT post pictures of people’s faces, we have to keep each other safe during these protests. Sign and share petitions supporting the cause. Donate if you can. Most of all, let’s keep each other safe.

In the words of Assata Shakur: “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

Black lives matter. ALL Black lives matter. Now and always.