The System is literally set up for us to fail. By us, I mean black people. We are literally born with a target painted on us. Too many times have I seen a white person commit murder and walk away from the scene in cuffs while a black person leaves the scene in a body bag for “resisting” The proof is in the pudding…

If you don’t understand why WE are mad I don’t know what to tell you.

Have you ever heard of a white 17 year old being shot holding some Skittles and an Arizona? Oh yeah, his killer was acquitted. Nahhh that would never happen.

How about a white 25 year old shot while on a jog wearing basketball shorts and a white tee? His killers weren’t even arrested until Social Media made it into a big deal and the video was circulated. Nope, there’s no way that’s true.

Did you hear about the dog that was pinned to the ground the other day, the Animal Control Officers put a knee on his throat and killed him while he was whimpering and was obviously having trouble breathing? The 4 officers got fired but they aren’t being charged with murder or anything like that. Oh my goodness that’s crazy.

These events sound unrealistic when you replace the actual victim with a white person or a dog, but they have all happened to a Black male.

There are plenty of other stories just like this, but these incidents hurt me the most. I wear hoodies almost everyday and I always have my skittles, gummy bears, starburst candy, and an Arizona Mango Tea or Hydroflask with me. I run almost every day through my neighborhood. I’ve been arrested with a knee in my back and I wasn’t even resisting!

I am writing this with tears running down my face because I don’t see it changing. This isn’t the first time any of this is happening and I’m sorry but I don’t think it’s the last time either.

Growing up in a black household with family members in Law Enforcement I can see both sides of this coin. From a young age I was taught to respect authority, whether that was my parents or someone in a position of power above me.

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. -Philippians 1:27

Fighting violence with more violence only gets US killed. Whether we like it or not, it doesn’t solve anything. I’m NOT saying to stay quiet and let it go. I AM saying we need to find a better way to fix it.

“History repeats itself and thats just how it goes”

Now I’m not trying to give you a history lesson, but here’s some “American” history that you won’t read in textbooks.

Greenwood Massacre 1921, WHITE PEOPLE attacked homes and businesses in a Black neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history, but sadly, one of the least known. We will never know the real number of deaths but hundreds of people were killed and thousands hospitalized. Homes defaced and demolished, businesses raided and burned, millions of dollars worth of damage to the Black community.

Look who ends up suffering and hurt…. US!

We don’t even have to look that far back, Watts Riots (55 Years ago), LA Riots (28 Years ago), but we are right back where we started. They beat US and we respond by trashing up our own neighborhoods?!?! Why?

Here’s my problem…

When White People have a “Peaceful Protest” in Huntington Beach cops show impeccable restraint. Even with people yelling in their faces, pushing, and shoving; somehow they find a way to keep it under control.

Black people do the same thing and next thing you know Rubber Bullets and Tear Gas are flying through the air. Black people didn’t even start the vandalism and “rioting” in Minnesota, there are videos of white guys in all black clothing breaking windows and starting fires! But thats not what they want you to see. They want you to see a white lady in a wheel chair get blasted with a fire extinguisher… that was a white guy that did it by the way…

If you think WE (Black People) started it, you’re stupid. Life is just like sports, the person that started it hardly ever gets caught. They always catch the person that retaliates.

“The only way to beat them is to be BETTER than them.”

Yeah it’s rough, they are looking at us with a magnifying glass just waiting for us to slip up. It’s nothing new, they want you to be another black statistic. The game is rigged. From a young age I have heard this from my elders but I am just now beginning to understand why they are so tired!

Breathe.

It’s kinda ironic given George Floyd’s situation I know…

Take a step back for a second and breathe.

Ask yourself,

“Are my actions adding to the PROBLEM, or am I contributing to help find a SOLUTION?”

TRY TO BE PRO-ACTIVE MORE THAN RE-ACTIVE

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. -1 Peter 5:9

LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY