A text I wrote 5 years ago about being detained by the police has gone viral again. I assure my friends and family seeing this post that this did not happen a second time. The internet is forever.
#ifitthedescription
#ifitthedescription
The lynching of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and the murder of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky have awakened some people to the possibilities of violence that US Black people experience at the hands of vigilantes and law enforcement.
My whole point in writing #ifitthedescription was to put the experience in context, to describe what goes through a person's head-a Black man-when they are in that kind of situation and to provide some insight into how people think.
Many supportive messages have come from people I do not know. Many messages have also come from the throat of hell. I have saved every one of them. Some people need to confess or need me to provide answers to them. I am not in the business of redemption.
Those people who claim shock and surprise are at best disingenuous. Those claiming not to know how to solve the problems of anti-Black bias and violence are lying to themselves.
Because my story was around in 2015, it was picked up by a lot of folks. I am deeply grateful to those who gave me proper attribution, links & asked my permission for using the story and my likeness. I'm proudest of the way it is used by @Tolerance_org
tolerance.org/classroom-reso…
tolerance.org/classroom-reso…
This keeps happening and I was just very fortunate that my situation did not turn out differently. I am alive not because I am articulate, or well dressed or a professor. They only reason I am not dead is dumb luck. Period.
Clicking "like" or sharing my essay is not enough. If my story moved you enough to write or to "follow" me, I need you to take some direct action to change the circumstances for Black people in their own country. Links follow. blacklivesmatter.com
Rev William Barber III @UniteThePoor poorpeoplescampaign.org
Repairers of the Breach @BRepairers breachrepairers.org
Complete the census and make sure your community has a commitment to count EVERYONE. 2020census.gov/?cid=20003:cen…
Vote against white supremacy in every election from President to local offices. Defend everyone's right to vote. @fairfightaction and other organizations need your support. fairfight.com
Support expansion of voting. Especially voting from home and by mail. @voteathome voteathome.org
Defend and support the @USPS americanprogress.org/take-action-sa…
Write to your representatives so much that they learn your name. @resistbot is a very fast and easy way to be in touch with your local and national reps. resist.bot
@threadreaderapp pls unroll thanks
