Another
Black
Body
I heard this poem Wednesday on NPR. It made me cry and it made me unbelievably angry that I am cloaked in my White Privilege, in my nice home, not living in fear of law enforcement (aka those who believe it is “open season on black people” with absolutely no fear of repercussions for their actions.) If you have not listened to it, you should…
And as if Ahmaud Arbery was not enough.
Then came “Central Park Karen” and her actions against birdwatcher, Christian Cooper. .
And then George Floyd. And please don’t give me “but the aftermath is so wrong” because I don’t know how what is happening in Minneapolis has not happened all over America on a daily basis.
Because today I learned about Breonna Taylor.
And I am really so over this. And not because I don’t want to hear about these murders – I am so over this because when will justice finally happen? When will racism die the death it needs to. How long will Jim Crow America still be Jim Crow America.
Even President Obama weighed in, “This shouldn’t be “normal” in 2020 America. It can’t be “normal.” If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better.” Yes we can and we must.
Sadly, there is not enough poetry in the world to fix this. But Keedron Bryant’s song and the community poem, Running for Your Life are providing me with words that are helping me to better understand.
And for that I am grateful.
Thank you for sharing these. I am also saddened and horrified by what is going on in our country. These are 2 wonderful examples of how words and song can touch us in our hour of need. Keedron Bryant has a beautiful voice and I praise him for his heartfelt message. I agree with you – we must be better.
Thanks, Kat. I heard that poem on NPR this morning — and then had to go out and do a LOT of digging to try to find my soul again. (Still looking. But I have fewer weeds.)
Thank you, Kat. It’s all so heartbreaking. I stayed up way too late watching the riots last night and I’m so overwhelmed by it all. So many broken hearts has led to this destruction – and I’m hoping this is a tipping point for us all.
I am so heartbroken and disgusted by everything that is wrong with our country. I fully support the protesters and worry about them. Is it not enough that suffer disproportionately in our society that they also need to risk their lives and health to make their voices heard? We need real change. We cannot continue like this.
I have been at a complete loss. It is not normal, can not be normal, but I am beginning to understand being so angry that you feel you have to set things on fire to make people listen, but they are still deaf and don’t hear. This can not continue. We all must learn to be better and do better.
Thank you for sharing. I work with police officers, and my husband was one for 30 years. I still don’t understand how/why this continues to happen.