I have to acknowledge what happened with George Floyd in Minneapolis yesterday. He was murdered outright by White police officers who had such flagrant disregard for his humanity I was both stunned and sickened. The behavior from the officers was so cruel I akined it to what public lynching must have been like many years ago. Then, later, to see the video of the abominable behavior of White Amy Cooper towards Black Christian Cooper in Central Park?! I’m disgusted by where this nation finds itself today and am full of both sadness and anger.

Horrific moments such as these are the ones that are captured on camera. How many injustices against people of color are happening every day that don’t make the news? I know the numbers are high enough that it would be difficult to even wrap my head around them. My heart is so heavy with this thought. It’s as if each injustice is a small cut on my skin, one after the other, causing more pain and more agony. Whereas with just one cut the pain is not felt as greatly, but each further cut then adds up to a massive wound so apparent it is impossible to ignore. The cyclical nature of the inhumane and oppressive treatment people of color are experiencing all across this country, but more specifically to black men day in and day out is both staggering and frightening. I can’t seem to shake it from my psyche and find myself completely distracted and unable to focus.

I’m doing what I can to be as vocal as possible with my feelings and beliefs. I know how important it is as a White person to speak out. I also know I alone did not create this. That said, the generational waters of racism I have benefited from I have swam in my entire life. Those waters have become so thick with discontent it’s as if I am swimming through mud just trying to keep my head afloat to breathe. 

As a White person living in a world where a Black person has to second guess his or her safety just by simply walking down the street to the store, I am compelled to say to every person of color please take care. What kind of world do we live in where the color of my skin affords me safety for the most mundane experiences of life, but not for people of color? I know I can rationally understand how we got here, but I still beg the question.

If you are White. A future of solidarity is possible. If you want to know how. Read this.

I saw a post on Twitter that resonated with me. I am sharing it here.