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There isn’t even time to grieve or process before we have to try and make space for the next black person killed, harassed, or threatened. In the past 30 days: Nina Pop, Sean Reed, the truth of Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. These are names I can list off the top of my head.
We know there are more. Simultaneously, we are processing videos of Amy Cooper and Tom Austin brandishing authority over what and how black people are existing.
Whatever you do, don’t keep scrolling. Don’t look away. It’s literally killing people.
One more thing - I’ll spend zero time debating any of this with anyone. So don’t bother.
Fellow white folks: there are so many people doing work around race, police brutality, white supremacy, etc - I’ll tag some below but I also encourage you to seek out resources on your own. Listen and read and amplify that work. Grow and change and talk to your kids.
They are also calling the police. They are treating 911 like a service that can manage their perceived inconveniences and could cost someone their life. That is not hyperbole, we don’t need another video to prove this truth.
Whether or not I feel like helping, I know I can’t send her to clean out the garage by herself. When the tag is ripped off something that needs to be returned, I handle the conversation.
When one of us locks our hotel room key inside, I go to the front desk - whether the room is in my name or not. Sometimes I’d genuinely rather her hold it than have to choose which airport bathroom she’s the least likely to get harassed in.
But the truth also is, race crosses our mind every time. Because it’s possible. And that’s a burden too.
Avoiding the police and instances where they may be called is a part of our daily life. Layshia and I have had conversations about how important it is for her to wear a mask in the store vs her seeming like a threat to someone.
The truth is, it’s not likely that every interaction Layshia has is informed by race. Maybe it’s not about race when someone asks for her room key when heading to the elevator in a nice hotel but not mine or when she’ll find herself being followed in a store.
