I’ve been raised and surrounded by women in my family who had such a significant affect on how I view the world and their lives have truly shaped mine. Their rich lives are full of cautionary tales, inspirational events, devastating hardships, hilarious happenings, fleeting romances, epic revelations, harrowing loss, complicated relationships, and throughout it all full of determination and love. I won’t name names, because my family tends to be extremely private, but I do want to share some moments in time with the mothers who have heavily impacted me.
Virtually Insensitive
The pandemic has completely upended how we work and it’s been interesting to see how companies have dealt with this unavoidable shift. The world around us is not something employees and employers alike can ignore. Previous environments I’ve worked in have impacted me in ways I didn’t fully realize until after I left. There were places I’ve worked where colleagues said inappropriate things about race and class, treated me slightly differently than my white counterparts, and leaders who took positions of indifference about who was allowed used their product/services that I didn’t agree with. All of my experiences (good and bad) have informed how I navigate the workplace now- safely and with intention. I refuse to silence myself to make others comfortable.
The Verdict. The Violence. The Vileness.
While I am glad to see justice finally done, it took a 9-minute recording of George Floyd’s death, an entire movement, and thousands of people demanding accountability for Derek Chauvin to make it happen. There are countless other instances where the police have been able to avoid justice, because the judicial system is intrinsically biased towards cops. The police as a whole are still able to terrorize communities even though this one officer is thankfully getting put away.
As the entire world watched the trial that would determine whether this country would go up in instant flames or instead be relieved for a short while, another shooting occurred. We are immediately back where we started or more accurately, in the same situation we’ve continued to be in for centuries. Relief isn’t something we can bask in when the police are still roaming the streets with evil trigger fingers and increasing malice.
A Helluva Month
It’s impossible not to be affected by what’s happening in this country right now. Within the last week, there have been several mass shootings in cities across the nation, a video was released of another unarmed child being killed at the hands of police, and more bills are being introduced to impede on trans rights, especially trans children. These are attestations that this country still has so long to go when it comes to protecting all of its citizens. This period in time is taking a toll on how we move through our day to day, challenging the negative impacts of the status quo, and more generally is just weighing us down in ways I think we’re all still unpacking.
How Many...
How many more think pieces can be written about my humanity as a black person in America? How many scholars must write fact-filled dissertations, writers & journalists craft essays, articles, papers, and stories about the history of violence in America? How many more times can we go to the streets with fire in our eyes and hope in our hearts when the system continues to fail us? How many more people’s names become hashtags while their families plea for justice that rarely comes? How many more times do we go through this cycle of terror, grief, frustration, sadness, and anguish?