While many of us know the phrase “I Can’t Breathe” has become awareness for the death of George Floyd, “I Can’t Breathe” is something that speaks to the heart of the black community at this time. Mentally and emotionally bearing the countless deaths of blacks, without justice or delayed justice, seems so overwhelming. It’s a tough mental space to combat with because there’s many emotions in one. It’s not only tough to bear the contents of each situation
From
Trayvon Martin.
Akai Gurley.
Eric Garner.
Terence Crutcher.
Tamir Rice.
Mike Brown.
Freddie Gray.
Philando Castille.
Breonna Taylor.
George Floyd.
I can’t breathe.
To
Alton Sterling.
Rekia Boyd.
Antonio Martin.
Walter Scott.
Jamar Clark.
Aiyana Jones.
Korryn Gaines.
SANDRA BLAND.
Ahmaud Arbery.
It’s tough to wake up black. It’s tough to go for a run. It’s tough to stay at home. It’s tough to go to the corner store. It’s tough to pass the cops in traffic, let alone being pulled over.
I can’t breathe.
And every name does something to me. Every name represents the hundreds and thousands of those were never mentioned. How many deaths have happened on the count of their skin color. How many unlawful persecutions have happened on the count of their skin color.
I can’t breathe.
And then the #blacklivesmatter movement takes place while people say “all lives matter” behind it.
I can’t breathe.
It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating to see people act as if they can’t see the truth. It’s sickening to hear whites that don’t believe in their privilege at hand. It’s disgusting to know about the tricks whites have played on us year after year after year.
I can’t breathe.
It’s too much to bear alone. It’s hard to process. It’s tough to react properly. But it’s necessary because
I can’t breathe! We can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.