We Can't Beathe
Literally, we can’t breathe...because these masks are too hot. Trying to protect our own immune systems from oppressive establishments that could care less about communities of color dying from COVID-19. And you wonder why there is a continuance of distrust. Trying to wiggle free out the grasps around our necks from our abusers. Trying to restrict exposure to the toxins in these walls of the only apartments we can afford. Trying to elevate off the same streets that make us bleed. Trying to survive....with your knees on our neck, we can’t breathe.
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When breath becomes air, will you pull us up? Will you undo the mutilation to Emmett’s body? Will you retract the bullets from the back of Ahmaud Arbery? Would you breathe life back into Sandra’s body? Will you protect the women you so enjoy looking at, yet are slain in the streets? Will you live out the morals you so claim in your Constitution? Will you remove your knee from George Floyd’s neck? Will you finally let us breathe? In 1865, you proclaimed us to be free. But...are we? Because my own breath is a threat. My own blood is a crime to this country. My bosom is not my own, yet it gives life and nourishment to my seed. My own femininity should not coexist with freedom. I ask no favors of you. I do not wish for 40 acres and a mule. I do not long for your money. I do not want your approval of my body. You do not have to like me...like you like your guns. All I ask of you, my fellow Americans.....take your knee off our fucking necks.
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Rest In Peace forever George Floyd. Ahmad Aubrey. Breonna Taylor. Robert Fuller. Rayshard Brooks. Tamir Rice. Trayvon Martin. Michael Brown. Emmett Till. Reverend Clementa Pinckney. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton. Cynthia Hurd. Tywanza Sanders. Ethel Lance. Susie Jackson. Rev. Daniel Simmons. Myra Thompson. Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor. Delano Middleton. Samuel Hammond, JR. Henry Smith. Tupac Amaru Shakur. Ermias Ashgedom. Sandra Bland. Pamela Turner. LeKavis Henicks. Korryn Gaines. Deborah Danner. Kira Johnson. Rekia Boyd. Deidre Thompson. Alexis Crawford. Kiana Carmichael. And every other victim of violence, police brutality, domestic violence, hate crimes, mass incarceration, sexual assault, wrongful convictions, child abuse, bullying, maternal mortality, systemic racism, and a system that may sometimes work...and other times fail us.
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Say their names and say it strong for them...Let them feel us. Let them rise to our ancestors. Happy Juneteenth!
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If you see an act of injustice happening, please speak up. And if you prefer not to speak, do not underestimate the power of writing. Please call, email, and/or write your local government officials. Please make sure you are registered to vote NOW in your local, state, and national elections by visiting: https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/. Please make sure you are educating yourself in the issues in your community. Please make sure if you are a none POC, you are educating yourself without placing the burden on me or my fellow POC’s to be your teacher. Please engage with racism, because it is possible to do so with tact, kindness, and empathy. Please call your district attorney and show up at town hall and city council meetings. Please check your own policing behavior. Please make sure...you love yourself, so that you are capable of being a decent human being. Please......breathe. We are one, and we are one beloved community. Peace.
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When breath becomes air, will you pull us up? Will you undo the mutilation to Emmett’s body? Will you retract the bullets from the back of Ahmaud Arbery? Would you breathe life back into Sandra’s body? Will you protect the women you so enjoy looking at, yet are slain in the streets? Will you live out the morals you so claim in your Constitution? Will you remove your knee from George Floyd’s neck? Will you finally let us breathe? In 1865, you proclaimed us to be free. But...are we? Because my own breath is a threat. My own blood is a crime to this country. My bosom is not my own, yet it gives life and nourishment to my seed. My own femininity should not coexist with freedom. I ask no favors of you. I do not wish for 40 acres and a mule. I do not long for your money. I do not want your approval of my body. You do not have to like me...like you like your guns. All I ask of you, my fellow Americans.....take your knee off our fucking necks.
.
.
.
Rest In Peace forever George Floyd. Ahmad Aubrey. Breonna Taylor. Robert Fuller. Rayshard Brooks. Tamir Rice. Trayvon Martin. Michael Brown. Emmett Till. Reverend Clementa Pinckney. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton. Cynthia Hurd. Tywanza Sanders. Ethel Lance. Susie Jackson. Rev. Daniel Simmons. Myra Thompson. Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor. Delano Middleton. Samuel Hammond, JR. Henry Smith. Tupac Amaru Shakur. Ermias Ashgedom. Sandra Bland. Pamela Turner. LeKavis Henicks. Korryn Gaines. Deborah Danner. Kira Johnson. Rekia Boyd. Deidre Thompson. Alexis Crawford. Kiana Carmichael. And every other victim of violence, police brutality, domestic violence, hate crimes, mass incarceration, sexual assault, wrongful convictions, child abuse, bullying, maternal mortality, systemic racism, and a system that may sometimes work...and other times fail us.
.
.
.
Say their names and say it strong for them...Let them feel us. Let them rise to our ancestors. Happy Juneteenth!
.
.
.
If you see an act of injustice happening, please speak up. And if you prefer not to speak, do not underestimate the power of writing. Please call, email, and/or write your local government officials. Please make sure you are registered to vote NOW in your local, state, and national elections by visiting: https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/. Please make sure you are educating yourself in the issues in your community. Please make sure if you are a none POC, you are educating yourself without placing the burden on me or my fellow POC’s to be your teacher. Please engage with racism, because it is possible to do so with tact, kindness, and empathy. Please call your district attorney and show up at town hall and city council meetings. Please check your own policing behavior. Please make sure...you love yourself, so that you are capable of being a decent human being. Please......breathe. We are one, and we are one beloved community. Peace.
Resources for POCNow, more than ever, is time to un-do the racism so heavily ingrained in this country, find your niche…your passion…your way of giving back to communities of color...by getting involved in and/or making donations to the most pressing civil liberties issues of our time. This spreadsheet will be updated occasionally with resources to educate yourself, be the change, and create seats at the table for people of color (POC). Peace.
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