Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of VladTV.
Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, Rekia Boyd, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland, Ramarley Graham, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and those are just a few in the last few years. These are Black lives taken without consequences! These are brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, fathers, husbands that have been taken, and NO ONE has been held accountable!!
As I marched down Broadway and 42nd Street in NYC on Thursday night alongside thousands of protesters fed up and chanting, "Black Lives Matter!" I looked to my left, and to my right and I was faced with a real question... How much do Black lives really matter to Black people?
I posed this question to myself when it was clear that the overwhelming majority of protesters were White! Sure, it is necessary to have allies for the cause. Our white supporters are welcomed and essential, but the oppressed and those directly impacted should be the majority of the protesters and advocates seeking justice and liberation. Right?
I mean, every other group fighting for equality and justice are the majority at their protests! I watch the LGBT community advocate and march, and while they have many heterosexual supporters, they are the majority at their protests and rallies. When the Asian, Jewish, Latino, Palestinian communities have issues of injustice, they have allies of all races, but they are the overwhelming majority at their protests!
So it makes sense that Black folks, the main people in this country being killed without consequence, see it as imperative to fight for their liberation!
Some have said, "It's only one march, Mysonne, and it's not the normal turnout at the majority of the protest for black issues." I've been involved in this movement intricately for three years and I can say that in almost every protest that I've helped to organize or just attended, that has been the case...but my question wasn't solely based on that issue.
At the beginning of this letter, I gave you names of Black lives taken without consequence, but that's only a small percentage. There were over 100 black unarmed people killed by police in 2015, and the numbers are on target to pass that in 2016. And this isn't new! Every year there is a major unrest where a black life is taken, and we march for a few days, riot maybe, protest and the anger subsides without any laws changing, without anyone being convicted, without anyone being fired. We return to our regularly scheduled programming.
So why aren't we able to do what it takes to get justice? After decades of injustice and inhumane treatment, why aren't we willing to sustain a plan that will force our government to make changes that will directly affect the killing of our black brothers and sisters? Why aren't we fed up? Why aren't we truly willing to sacrifice our convenience and comfort for our lives? Every other race has done it! Every other marginalized group has done it, and they were victorious. Why can't we? Why do we keep doing the same thing expecting a different result?
This week a bunch of our Black celebrities took to social Media to say they wanted to make a change! Some were very emotional and heartfelt and I was moved! I thought to myself; this may be the moment that we make a difference. This time our celebrities will amplify the voice of the people in the struggle! They might be willing to sacrifice their comfort, their finances, their convenience for true liberation and justice. Yes, I said to myself..."Yes!"
So as an activist, freedom fighter and a seeker of justice I began to plan. I said, "To get something we've never had, we have to do something we've never done." I looked at what has been historically successful and coupled that with the current climate and technology. I came to the conclusion that if we want justice, we need to be unified, disciplined and do one thing at the exact same time! We would have to show strength in numbers and commitment. Our leaders would have to unify, our celebrities would have to convey the plan to their millions of followers. Yes, we could finally show our government that we are united unlike ever before. We would make such a shift in our economy and in this world that our government would be forced to make change. We would finally show the world that Black Lives Matter.
So I proposed my plan and everyone said that it would be ideal, but "We Can't" expect our people to be that disciplined; "We Can't" expect our celebrities to make those sacrifices; "We Can't" expect our leaders to be that unified; "We Can't" expect our people to boycott; We Can't" expect our people to believe; "We Can't" expect Black Lives To Matter that Much to Black People.
- Mysonne
