Every day in melanin skin is the wake up call
Photo by Nsey Benajah on Unsplash
Karmelo Anthony, a black teenager was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf, also a teen. He claimed self defense.A week prior, Rich Chow, an Asian store owner was found not guilty in the shooting death of fourteen year old Cyrus Belton. He claimed self defense.
Two separate cases with defendants who made the same claim, yet one walked while the other will spend decades in prison. Since the rulings, timelines across social media are filled with posts ranging from anger, frustration, bigotry, and compassion.
As black people, we love when non blacks “get it”. Or at least attempt to see the human and fair side of things, offering sensible commentary with critical thought, insightfulness, and empathy.
Some black folks have stated these cases have “woke” them up. And how they will be diligent to patronise black businesses now. Others still, are adamant on inviting our non black brothers and sisters to the cookout; whenever they post about the true contradictions of each case.
Enough of the side by side memes of blatant unfairness and bias. We as in black folk already know what it is. The wake up call isn’t the cases that headline national news. The wake up call is in the daily slights, digs, stares, and approaches when out minding our black business.
Enough liking and commenting on Tik Toks of them dancing on beat to our music. I encourage each and every one of them to stand with us in real life, in real time. The truth is, just because they dance to our music doesn’t mean they don’t hold racist or biased views. It means they danced to a song on Tik Tok!
When will black people stop being so basic and wanting every one to like us, but us?
These grand examples of judicial prejudices shouldn’t be the eye opener. We are supposed to stick together not because other ethnic groups do; because we do. We are suppose to patron our businesses when it’s good business just because.
Black people are the most loving, forgiving people and that is part of the issue. We are easily penetrated without the same courtesy in return.
We don’t need others to like us, see, or understand what we feel or experience. We just need to reconnect and love ourselves right here, right now.
Until connection, unity, and self love becomes our existence. We will forever need racial atrocities to be our wake up call.