“There’s A Thin Line Between Love & Hate….and Just-US”
The tragic news of recent killings of two young black men in Minnesota & Louisiana last week, once again served as a deep reminder to what life is for black men and women in America. Far too often, the result is death. Far too often families are left with unanswered questions and unfelt pain. Far too often, justice seems like ‘Just-Us’.
When I heard of the news and watch the video, I began to weep. Not just because of how gruesome and horrific the videos were, but also because subconsciously, (and even though I may not want to admit it), that this could’ve be ME.
Then reality set in. It doesn’t matter how many degrees I earn. Who my employer is. How much money I earn or what I dress like, there are police officers in this world who only see me as black.
Growing up I’ve made good grades. I excelled in sports and music. My grandfather and father were preachers. And I’ve never been locked up. Sadly, despite doing everything seemingly right, I too have been harassed and pulled over without reason by police. Often time, I felt the uneasy and unsettling feeling of not knowing what would happen as the officer approached the car.
My experience with police hasn’t always been bad, because I have family and friends who are officers who have served and protected St. Louis for many years. And St. Louis has some of the best experts in community policing that I personally know and respect. But I can’t help but admit that my reality and experience isn’t the same for all of my friends and family.
As far as the bad experiences, the trauma still lingers. The reality for young black men and women is that subconsciously, we’re in constant fear of being racially profiled or killed by police. And if you include the fear & anxiety we have of just surviving the day in our own neighborhoods and streets, dealing with the violence amongst our own people, it is without question that black people are tired.
When all you see on t.v. and social media is the images of unarmed black men being killed, I often times find myself asking the question, “ Who’s protecting me?”.
This speaks to a deeper and more profound point. Society has seemed to have left the black man behind. Often time I feel forgotten. Left out and dismissed.
Even with being a graduate of one the top schools in the country, I can not even begin the countless moments in which I’ve felt forgotten.
If it wasn’t for a strong family, praying grandmothers & an entire support system, I wouldn’t be here today. Black men need your love and support. To the women in our lives, thank you. Continue to love and encourage the young men in your lives. Hug us. Support us. Don’t use our children against us. Child support is apart of the system that oppresses us. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. You don’t know how much words and your actions effect us.
We are not the endangered species. We too are valuable. We too are Human. We cry. We feel pain. We deal with problems. We make mistakes. But despite it all, we too need Love.