I don't think you need to see any more people protesting for you to get that Black Lives Matter. I don't think we want to see any more black people murdered in the streets. I think by now we all know that BLACK LIVES MATTER. I hope that for many of us we have always known. And for those of us who haven't always and are now finally waking up to see the truth, I am glad. BLM!
I want this movement to be more than just police brutality. I want us to educate ourselves not only on police brutality but on systematic oppression. I want us to read books written by black people. I want us to look at art. I want us to read their poems. I want us all to get a taste, just a taste because we can never truly know what it means to be a black American unless we are actually a black american but still I want us to get a glimpse of their reality so that we can understand. I want us to learn, listen and sympathize. But most importantly, I want this movement to be more than a time of education.
I want you to join the fight. Don't let racists feel comfortable in front of you. Don't let your implicit biases control you. Fight it. Teach others. Educate others. Help others. Join the fight. But don't let this energy slip away. Whatever you do, don't let their deaths mean nothing. Don't let this time mean nothing. Let's get this done!
I chose this poem by Tommye Blunt that I think it goes with this message beautifully. It is called The Pedestrian and I recommend you check out his other works and the works of many other black poets, writers, painters and musicians.
The Pedestrian by Tommye Blunt
When the pickup truck, with its side mirror,
almost took out my arm, the driver's grin
reflected back; it was just a horror
show that was never going to happen,
don't protest, don't bother with the police
for my benefit, he gave me a smile—
he too was startled, redness in his face—
when I thought I was going, a short while,
to get myself killed: it wasn't anger
when he bared his teeth, as if to caution
calm down, all good, no one died, ni[ght, neighbor]—
no sense getting all pissed, the commotion
of the past is the past; I was so dim,
he never saw me—of course, I saw him.
***
~ Have you ever been in a protest?
It is okay if your answer is no! Not all the battles are won on the battle field not that a protest is a battle field but you get what I mean.
With hope,
D.O.
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