Shh...

"Racism, in the first place, is a weapon used by the wealthy to increase the profits they bring in by paying Black workers less for their work."

-Angela Davis

They want me to be quiet. Nah. We are living in a climate that will not allow me to do such a thing. I have lived much of my life in the quiet corner minding my business, too afraid to be the "angry Black girl." Being the "Silent Black girl" no longer works for me personally. I can not and will not be quiet anymore. Especially not if it means pacifying the feelings of racists, ignoramuses, and the uninformed. Nah, I'm good.

So here's the read. WHAT A TIME TO BE BLACK! Black and socially aware. Black and politically aware. Black and self aware. Black and religiously aware. Black and paying attention!

Black and bold. Black and educated. Black and informed. Black and creative. Black and loud. Black and proud. Black and unapologetic!

For generations, my people have been the recurring victims of systematic disparities that have left us at the bottom of the socioeconomic and mortality totem pole. We have been made out to be, in a sense, "delusional" for expressing the struggles that we have faced.

I will never understand non-Black people trying to tell us what we have experienced. How do you know what is to be Black, and you ain't never been Black? When we are told that racism is a facade or that we should simply "get over" things, it makes me question the mental stability of those who offer these things so ignorantly as solutions. How about this, be Black for a day. Have dogs sicced on you, be hosed, be followed in retail stores, have guns pointed in your face while unarmed, die because you were breathing while Black. I'll be back for y'all later in this post.

I will never understand Black people offended by Black people fighting for the rights we all know are not exactly inalienable to us. When the Bill of Rights was written WE were not in mind. Let's be real. You all ask why we are still fighting and chanting "Black Lives Matter", it's because we HAVE to. For you, for me, for us. I want to come to a consensus within the Black community where we all learn that there is one common goal no matter our socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, etc. Life. Life in its fullness and entirety. Where we learn that we do not betray each other but instead lookout for the wellbeing of our brothers and sisters. So that this false narrative that it is somehow "weird" for us to be fighting for and caring each other can cease. We're supposed to do that. Y'all got me?

Back to what I was saying. White people, specifically White Americans, speaking on Black and Brown issues has long been a pet peeve of mine. It is incredibly insensitive for anyone to speak on any situation they will never have the burden of experiencing. It is even more insensitive for you all to deflect from the issues Black people have and are facing.

It boils my blood that for every hurt or horror we as Black express you all seem to have a counter argument. It sounds like, "Yes your house is burning down, but my roof is leaking." How are the two even remotely similar? How do you even compare the two? YOU DON'T!

With that being said it's time for me to speak to you "All Lives Matter" people specifically. Come here, pay attention. You all grind my gears the most. Those of us that so passionately say "Black Lives Matter" are aware that we ALL matter. The problem is that we feel excluded when YOU say "All Lives Matter" then disregard our existence! That is the issue we have with what you say. You feel as though in order for you to feel "good" or "seen", you have to counter argue with our struggle and I will never get down with that.

I feel this post becoming long and I didn't come here to rant but to inform. So I'll leave you with this, for every "argument" you all have had with what I have said on my social media platforms I have complied a list of phrases with historical references that may help you better understand:

"Remember the Tea"- The Boston Tea Party
"Historically Arsonists"- The burning of crosses, homes, churches, and Black bodies
"Thanksgiving Ain't No Feast"- The Massacre of Native Americans
"Hey Cousin"- The Rape and Forced Matriarchy of Black Women
"Me Too"- The Criminalization of Blackness

Let me be clear, I operate in love, light, and peace. But where there is no justice, there is no peace. I send light to every soul hurting and trying to comprehend. We are in a Civil Rights, a Human Rights, movement and I will speak for every person that is not brave enough or able to speak for themselves. I will not let the memories of my family members or brothers and sisters die. I will fight for them. I will hold people accountable. I will force change.

Here's a list of events, missing persons lists, petitions, and funds for all that are interested: 

https://docs.google.com/…/2PACX-1vSrT26HMWX-_hlLfiyy9s9…/pub

If you are fighting, keep fighting. Please ignore the people that don't and won't understand. Please ignore and have mercy on the people that look like you that ask "What is that going to do?" ...they need you the MOST! Please ignore the people with an opinion and no action. Those of us fighting for change alongside you see you! 

If you are in Waco, Texas and would like to get involved please contact someone with The New Black Collective or ChangeWaco

But whatever you do, don't stop fighting.

Uh, I asked a question like this
Are we a lost generation of our people?
Add us to equations but they'll never make us equal
She who writes the movie owns the script and the sequel
So why ain't the stealing of my rights made illegal?
They keep us underground working hard for the greedy
But when it's time pay they turn around and call us needy

- Janelle Monae