11 weeks ago, at the beginning of quarantine, I began writing a piece called "When We See Us." It focused on the psychological warfare Black youth endured from while coming-of-age between 2012-2016. Black youth became the faces/voices of an entire movement and it was a lot on us.

It was difficult for us. And while there were elders giving us guidance, support, & affinity, there were certainly elders who critiqued us for having different means of protest. I remember Al Sharpton took jabs at young organizers because they didn't allow him to center himself.

We just didn't need a sole leader of this movement. We all shared the same struggle, so why let one person speak for all of us?

A lot of us changed. A lot of us put "the work" at the top of our priority lists and taxed ourselves, physically, mentally, and emotionally, heavily.

I think we all felt some type of dedication to the work because we were being fed that not working the frontlines, not being seen, and not speaking up was a disservice to our ancestors and our being. But we didn't know that equally taking a break from things is necessary, too.

There is always someone else doing the work. You don't have to feel like you have to buy a plane ticket to loot in Minneapolis just because you feel enraged. Sometimes that's enough. Just you and your rage--where you are.

I'm at peace with being in my early 23 and not being as active as I was at 17. I still do work, when I can and want. I've also expanded my definition of what "work" is. I've grown to understand that I can do the work in the spaces I already occupy.

In 2016, I organized a Black Lives march on Broad St. In 2017, I started another Black organization on my college campus and actively educated mass numbers of folks at least once a week. Today, I donated to a bail fund in Minnesota from my bed in Philadelphia. All are relevant.

With everything I've said, I hope that people are safe and well through these times. I hope everyone (especially Black youth) is taking a breath and remembering their existence is enough. Please love on your Black friends, family, neighbors, and unfamiliars today--and everyday.

I also will no longer be releasing the piece that I talked about in the start of this thread. The piece feels like I would be looking for some sort of gain besides just sharing my perspective at this weird point in time. There's just so much going on and I want ppl to just feel.