Last Night I Cried

Last night I cried. I woke up this morning and texted my non-black friends that I appreciated their voices. I expressed to my Snapchat that I hear my peers’ silence. I sent an email to my old frozen yogurt job that I'd appreciate it if they spoke up instead of posting about their move to curbside pick up. I did all of this because I cried.

But what did I cry for?

Did it have something to do with the institutionalized racism of police departments? Yeah, that played a role.

Did it have to do with the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Laquan McDonald and more? That definitely started the tears.

Did it have to do with the ongoing cycle of oppression in the black community? That definitely kept the tears going.

But what really made me break down was the fact that I was crying because of the color of my skin that I love so dearly. I cried because white people will never ever come close to realizing what oppression is. I cried because melanin is the reason that my people are losing their lives. I cried because there are so many opportunities that I have and will miss out on because an individual decides to judge me for my skin first instead of my character.

I ask you to take a step back and understand your privilege. Understand that your white skin makes it easier for you to navigate this country. 

Understand that all communities are needed to make a change, including the Asian and Hispanic communities.

Understand that you can be a part of the reason that gets the black community change.

The next time I cry, I want to be crying because of the change that I have seen.

I want to cry because the lost lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and the others lead to our government officials taking accountability in the oppression that they have caused and let go on for so long.

I want to cry because we were seen and listened to. Because our communities were able to come together and make the difference that was needed.

Change can happen and it will. But it first starts with the three A’s: Awareness, Accountability and Action.