Being black, is being proud.

As I mourn the murder of Ahmaud Arbery I reflect on how the Black community will never be at rest until there is an established respect and appreciation for Black lives. Why did it take over two months for authorities to arrest these two White terrorists? I mean, what do they think this is.. the 60's? As far as we have come from slavery, Jim Crow, and other systems of oppression we continue to live with the inherent dangers of having dark skin. As a person of color you fear for your life even when you shouldn't have to, and sometimes you lose it even when you were only minding your own business.

It is our responsibility as a community to never take no for an answer, and continue to fight for freedom and justice in the country WE built. It is our responsibility to continue the fight of the brave women and men that came before us, and dared to say, "We will not stand for this. We will not accept this."

Being black, is being proud. We are targeted, oppressed, and trying our best to fight the generational traumas which have taken hold of our family units since the establishment of slavery. But we carry on, and we continue to become the most beautiful flowers from the most abandoned soil. The strength of our ancestors carry us even on our darkest days because, we know that where we came from is much worse than where we are now. So we will continue to fight, even when it seems impossible. Even when justice is delayed we never allow it to be denied.

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

-Assata Shakur