Black Expression

Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, Ida B. Wells, Angela Davis, Katherine Dunham, Marcus Garvey, Countee Cullen, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Huey P. Newton, Madame C.J. Walker, and countless other contributors whose efforts have impacted the Black experience in America. Who in some way encouraged my upbringing as I would read, listen, learn, explore, and be grateful for their tenacity and presence to Black America.

There is no such thing as learning Black History in non-Black learning environments. The tidbits of information on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, slavery, W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, Nat Turner, and Sojourner Truth were only quick surface reviews with no depth. If I was left to rely on people not of my own race to know about the Black race, I’m sure that I would shy away from the beauty of Blackness. Yet I was birthed into an environment where my mother and father made sure that I embraced my Blackness, and looked into the heights and depths of my Blackness. The acknowledgment of Black creatives and learning Black history sparked my own curiosity, with the overall message, "The Sky Is The Limit."

I was glad to learn about Africa, African dance, the Negro National Anthem, and so many other historical Black facts and experiences whether full of light or darkness. I was the little girl in school who loved saying and showing “I’m Black and I’m Proud.” I don't think there was ever a grade level where I failed to teach my fellow classmates on Black history and Black culture. It was birthed in me and embraced by me. February, Juneteenth, and Kwanzaa always received calendar marks. Those were times of celebration to bask in Black excellence. This was my childhood.

Now, let's get to the real. Even with so many triumphs and creations, there are still trials and tribulations. The Black community has been weighed down with obstacles that have sucked us to plight, endangered our beings, and stifled our growth. The impact is felt even to this day. Here we are in the same society that killed Emmett Till (Rest in Power) who also killed Trayvon Martin (Rest in Power) and Tamir Rice (Rest in Power). A society where an educated Black woman is celebrated, yet a threat to fragile (white) men whose only source of power is to harm, detain, kill, and or cover-up murder as a way to shut up her excellence. Rest in Power Sandra Bland. These are not the only murders or countless lynchings from abuse of power. This show of racist demonic pride has stirred the Black core for centuries, breaking us, draining us, yet loving us when we dance and perform.

We’re in a society where it wasn’t enough to just end slavery and give us an apology with 40 acres and a mule. This society has looked at African Americans with disgust as white supremacists teach their offspring to hate Black people and to be upset with Black people. Oppressors need to take a look in the mirror. The hate they feel towards people not like them is only a representation of their own insecurities, instabilities, shortcomings, and filth. White supremacists and white vigilantes need to realize their hate has everything to do with the actual disgust they have regarding themselves.

There was the Reconstruction Era, yet laws and practices were in place to further cause inequalities and create injustices. There was Jim Crow, sharecroppers, food deserts, housing inequalities, limited work, health disparities (as Black people were unknowingly tested experiments); and yet, if there was any hope sought, planned and planted drugs were brought to hinder our communities. Established Black towns were destroyed to keep us in despair. Every single time the fragile white supremacists could they would kill us, judge us, and incarcerate us (16th Street Baptist Church, Emanuel 9, The Black Panther Party, Central Park 5). It has been a white supremacist and white vigilante sport to kill our hopes, our dreams, our justice, our peace, our love, our families, our communities, our minds, our bodies, and our chance at freedom. Why do unnecessary interactions end in our death? As Black people, we've seen this and felt the injustices before, yet we continue to thrive, in spite of the trauma.

Now, people are waking up. The hashtags keep coming, the stories of pain and inequalities are being brought to light in 2020. Black Lives Matter! More people are realizing the horror that has wrongfully plagued the Black community for centuries. Black people are not a threat! Black people deserve to have a chance to live just like those who bask in white privilege. Black people deserve to have justice just like how people are quick to demand justice for animal rights. Yet time and time again, there are reports and even unknown (cold) cases and (unjustifiable) Black killings, many caused by police brutality.

Enough is Enough! The counter-narrative is always hard to see when a person's main influence is the mainstream media. The media is not Bible. There are always intentions behind what is shown and produced. The information given will not always represent the whole truth. Remember the mainstream portrayal of Colin Kaepernick?

How can we be silent? How can we continue to allow the injustices, the inequalities, and the lack of accountability harm Black lives and hurt the Black community? Since the murder in Minneapolis, people have shown up. People are starting to realize that now is not the time to be silent. Real conversations need to be had. It’s not enough to support your Black friends while your white friends and family members are still racist. It doesn’t matter how much against racism you are if you are still unwilling to dismantle, educate on, and relearn the systems of society that have oppressed Black lives. These misdoings have kept neighbors and communities racist and comfortable in the systemic oppression of a group of people. It’s time for those uncomfortable conversations.

Stop the fetish of Black people for sexual desires, body goals, open targets, or just to say "I have Black friends." Change the way you live, think, and move by actually supporting Black lives. Stand up for Black people, walk with Black people, support Black people, understand Black people, empathize with Black people, love Black people. The showing up to protests with ulterior motives to riot and loot “Nordstroms?" It's a distraction. Can we stay focused?

Changes have already begun since the recent protests. More youth are leading the efforts, cases are being revisited, the call to defund the police is the action to invest in communities. Politicians and businesses are being confronted left and right, accountability is the call, people are showing out and losing jobs because of their awful racism. Whew! We must keep on applying the pressure for change. There is still work to do. Quarantine mixed with the protests worldwide and the realization of Black lives do matter has started anew dawn. People have more time now to look at and internalize situations and not be dismissive. We must all work together to stand for justice and equity for all, literally.

Justice must be limitless and not based on a color and race clause in the fine print. Equity must start now. As the protests continue, as our cities, states, businesses, and leaders are being confronted, we must take action. Take action within local communities and build. We must keep the process for change going. Communities must be a priority. Safety must be a priority. Education must be a priority. Health must be a priority. Wellness must be a priority. Equity must be a priority. Understanding must be a priority. Listening must be a priority. Service programs must be a priority. Accountability must be a priority.

If your Black friend, family member, neighbor, coworker, or associate, is upset, it is their right. They have a right to be outraged. We've been here before! If you prefer for Black people to watch their words and to go read scripture, then you need to check your privilege, have a seat, and learn something new. Black people are the only race of people who have always been cited for being "angry." We've always been tasked with keeping our composure. Black people are always expected to forgive even without proper healing. This is not an okay way of feeling, being, or thinking. It's been 400 years of wounds and scars. The trauma is deeply rooted in oppression. We are not okay, yet we press on.

What other choice do we have?

Justice must be for everyone. Peace must be for everyone. Freedom must be for everyone. Equity must be the call. There should be no reason for a person to disregard this opportunity to listen to, have empathy for, show support on, teach their communities about, stand with, kneel for, create change in, speak up for, and to establish better practices which support why Black Lives Matter.

Black expression is joy, rage, peace, sadness, happiness, stillness, love, madness, understanding, wisdom, anger, mourning, relief, and more. As the cases carry on of George Floyd (Rest in Power), Breonna Taylor (Rest in Power), Ahmaud Arbery (Rest in Power) and so many other brothers and sisters whose lives were senselessly taken at the hands of injustices (moment of silence). Please note it will take effort and action for effective change in dismantling the systemic oppression. This will require constant action, accountability, and support in this movement. If you are not for it then don’t join or engage in the daily commentary.

Our future generations of Black children and all children must have a chance at life to grow and let be, instead of being marked as a target. Take a stand. Now is the time. Get involved in your community, and even globally, find ways to help in the movement. There is nothing too big or too small, everyone can have a part in this movement. It is a new day. Don't tone down Black Expression, our emotions have been in this place before, so learn to understand and embrace. Heed the call to action, educate yourself and others, take your place, and let's not settle.

We Have Work To Do.