Hear Us!

To say I am angry is not enough.

To say I am sad is not enough.

To say I am disappointed is not enough.

I have been trying to put together the right words to describe what I think about the murder of yet another Black American. The right words are impossible to find when words can't describe this heart breaking feeling.

I debated with myself on speak up. I thought "I'm just another Black person speaking about another Black man being killed by another bad self righteous cop or another white racist man claiming self-defense."

Who's going to listen?

If George Floyd's murder was not recorded would the witnesses who saw his last few minutes of life been heard. The answer is no. We had to show the people what happened, because our words wouldn't have done anything.

The riots happening across the country are a result to no one listening. I am not an aggressive person. I've never been in a fight, but I understand why the peaceful protest have turned into riots. The Black community have been screaming and shouting for years "THIS AIN'T RIGHT!", but no one is listening. The sounds of smashing windows and cars on fire is just the microphone to amplify the voices that the justice system is trying to cover their ears to.

To those saying this is criminal, Black people are dangerous, you need to listen. Another Black person was murdered, and you're claiming the reaction to that being criminal. That's ignorant.

Unless you're white, you need to try harder.

For the last few months I have seen on the news, mostly white people protesting to have their salons and restaurants open. I have seen sign saying "my body, my choice" originally used by women who support pro-choice, now being used by white men who are having a tantrum about wearing a mask. I have seen a group of white people in my community verbally and physically harass our councilman, who happens to be Mexican, outside his home with his children inside.

What I noticed the last two month of watching these protest, is when white people protest, they're freedom of speech is protect by law enforcement. When white people protest they are not hit with rubber bullets, or bombed by tear gas, or arrested for inflicting danger on others.

When white people protest, they get what they want.

This is not an attack on white people. This is a Black person saying "use your white privilege to help non-whites". The harsh reality is you are heard more than people of color just for being white. So when you say "I don't have a say, because I am white", know your hear more than us.

We are stronger with allies. Just like the US in the Revolution War, World War I and II. The US stood a chance because of their allies with other countries. No, you won't experience racism of this county, but you can listen, try to understand and empower us.

Just because you're not Black, doesn't mean you don't have a say.

For year I even believed that of myself, because I am Mexican and Black. However, I learned both and other minority groups are treated less than the majority no matter the race. So to all my friends of various races who have made a statement about the injustice of our country, thank you.

To those of you who still think these actions Black people have had to make are outrageous and "un-American" I challenge you to ask a minority if they feel safe walking around the good "safe" part of town? Do they not pray to God that the white women giving them a stare doesn't call the cops, because just their presence is threatening? Ask them if they feel protected by police or if they fear they will be the reason of their death.

If you can't have a conversation to hear what's wrong with this country, so you turn a blind eye - you are the problem, not us.