Also Meeka , I don't want to go without mentioning how fantastic your son is for standing up for that kid. Further evidence that you are raising him right.
Agreed but I still have to help him deal with the trauma that standing up cost him. At 9 he already feels that the word being used by a non-Black person towards him is not being done in solidarity. At 9 my baby already has to go through racial trauma. I'm not a happy mama.
“The criminalization of Black existence has always been the point.”
Thanks for this well-written piece. It leads the reader to an undeniable sense of urgency. What real action are white people going to take to “weaponize privilege” and stop complicity with this systemic evil? Is the question I am left with
One day, I will share a more personal and very similar story. At 45, I'm tired. In 2020, my mother lamented that she couldn't believe that the same issues that were present and impacting Black people still existed. At this point, we can not be meel and docile. It gets us nowhere. Of late, I have been reminded of the Frederick Douglasa quote, “Power concedes nothing without demand.”
Also Meeka , I don't want to go without mentioning how fantastic your son is for standing up for that kid. Further evidence that you are raising him right.
Agreed but I still have to help him deal with the trauma that standing up cost him. At 9 he already feels that the word being used by a non-Black person towards him is not being done in solidarity. At 9 my baby already has to go through racial trauma. I'm not a happy mama.
Absolutely. And everyone who is not working to change this fucked up society is responsible for that.
Yes. ❤️
“The criminalization of Black existence has always been the point.”
Thanks for this well-written piece. It leads the reader to an undeniable sense of urgency. What real action are white people going to take to “weaponize privilege” and stop complicity with this systemic evil? Is the question I am left with
Well said - the sense of urgency is needed and what I felt as I read it too.
I just heard from Meeka and look forward to her responses here later also.
Powerful writing on a profoundly unfair system. Thank you for this, Meeka.
One day, I will share a more personal and very similar story. At 45, I'm tired. In 2020, my mother lamented that she couldn't believe that the same issues that were present and impacting Black people still existed. At this point, we can not be meel and docile. It gets us nowhere. Of late, I have been reminded of the Frederick Douglasa quote, “Power concedes nothing without demand.”
Incredible and heartbreaking article, Meeka. You’re absolutely right, and there are no words for how infuriating it is.
That is the QTNA! Because Black people have been doing a lot of lifting.
Exactly right
I love this piece.
And I'll say it before you do, Andy: the cropping on that lead image is abominable.