@thecolormeb

Why Carefree Black Girls Are Here to Stay

I came across this article a couple weeks ago and had to share it. Every day, especially the last 10 days, I have heard nothing but sad, devastating, anrgy and un-American news reported about black people and our state in this country. I read an article this morning about Kajieme Powell, a young man, in Ferguson, Missouri that asked cops, "Shoot me now. Kill me now," when he faced them after allegedly stealing ENERGY DRINKS and DONUTS from a corner store. The police killed him. Yes, Kajieme had a knife and did not put it down when asked. However, this man took some donuts and a couple red bulls, told you to kill him and you shoot him?! 

When James Eagan Holmes committed that awful crime in Aurora, Colorado, he was arrested and taken to jail seemingly unscathed - let me be clear, my intention is not to mitigate this to a black and white issue or a violent and nonviolent crime debate. I simply want you to recognize when I heard about Aurora, I immediately thought he might be suffering from some sort of mental health condition. I thought, "I pray they get him the help he needs." Since when is the appropriate police response to "Shoot me now. Kill me now," killing someone? Why was this not handled like any other mental health issue? #blacklivesmatter Living a carefree life full of jokes on jokes on jokes, is the only way that I can reconcile the society's and the law enforcement's apathy and disregard for myself and every other black body in this country. If I were in Ferguson, I would be protesting too - not because I'm mad. I'm sad and scared. In 2014, in the United States of America, police are shooting boys over donuts? A lot of my black sisters and I have to live a life full of brunches on the weekends, #hairflip posts on instagram and inappropriate jokes because that is how I cope with being black in America. 

There are so many levels to this.