This is what I’ve been thinking all afternoon. https://twitter.com/darairene/status/1381459201604608001

Because how do you talk to three exceptional Black boys

-and their sister, the leader -

how to stay physically safe at the expensed their mental health.

How do you say,

“yes you’re supposed to behave

like you’re less than
this statistically probable white supremacist

every time they harass you on the street?

Without saying “this blue gang’s comfort is more important than your dignity?”

Because if you say that,

if you say

“your momentary loss of dignity

times

hundreds of encounters over your lifetime?

Is worth less than a life in a police state?”

It Is to say yes to feeling like runaway slaves, for life.

It’s living a lesser life. And I’m at the point where I’d rather

be shot dead

If I can die as me
If I can die
in a way you can see my free.

It is to embed the thought that no matter how high one of us soars?

We’re all
still
in
chains.

Including the people too busy watching us struggle with our chains

to
see
their
own.

I can’t say that to these kids.

I want them to live but they’re too smart.

I feel like running into their rooms and shielding them with my body all night.

It’s too much.

It’s too fucking much and

Something is soon to explode.