I do my very best not to say politically rousing statements on here because I recognize how impactful it could be on my life and future. I will make a few points, however.

As a professional student, it is easy for my peers/colleagues to think of me as the kind of 1/x

Black/AA person who would never find themselves in a compromising position with law enforcement. Additionally, there’s falsely ascribed increased worth on my life. Further, some people even go as far as to think we may share very similar viewpoints on current events.

It is 2/x

important to recognize and appreciate that when I am on the street, I am not Student Dr. Cooley. I am a Black woman from Gary, IN with locs who has been transplanted to SC.

Miss Taylor deserved her life because she was a human being. Using her profession as a 3/x

reason why *she* shouldn’t have been killed inappropriately excuses the use of police brutality that has ended the lives of so many others.

She deserved to live because she was loved. She deserved to live because she gave love. She deserved to live because she was born of 4/x

her mother’s womb. She deserved to live because we as citizens deserve police that are psychologically intact, ACCURATE, well trained who treat people fairly and equally.

This is a complex and hurtful issue.

To Black women, you are love. You are beauty. You are valued. 5/x

You are precious. Sister, you deserve life and all the fruit you can taste in it. I know you’re wrestling with your mortality and safety because I am too, but you matter baby girl. Your life matters.

Last night, @almostdr_obrien and I were together and I said to him, 6/x

“I wonder how the school would mourn me if this were to happen to me.”

7/7.

This thread was screen for appropriateness by my friend @AbouS_K.