Photo Credit: Sandra Bland Via Google Images

“We know the road to freedom has always been stalked by death.” – Angela Davis

     Yesterday, Sandra Bland was laid to rest. Another Black body was laid to rest. Another Black body was murdered. Another Black body that leaves me full of questions that I want answers to. What happened? Why is it that Sandra Bland was in jail alive one minute, and the next minute she was dead?

So many heartbreaking questions fill my head.

Why can’t we just BE?

     The list of things that Black folks can’t do is getting longer, with every Black body laid to rest. This list sends a message that Black folks are supposed to bow down to white supremacy and stay in our so-called place, like we’re living in the days of the master oppressing the slave. Fuck that shit! Just walking down the street seems to send a signal of, “I’m a threat.” My, no, our, articulate, intelligent, and wonderful  selves are threatening to some folks. Our Black bodies just standing still are threatening to some folks. What it seems that we can’t do, is show our intelligence, our assertiveness, and our independence. And after Sandra Bland rightfully showed hers, she is no longer here. It makes me wonder how long will I be here? And who will be next?

So many heartbreaking questions fill my head.

Why did Sandra Bland have to die?

     I was born and raised in America (wait…Amerikkka), and I feel like I have no home. I never really feel at home. Never really feel at ease. Never really know when white supremacy will take my last breath, like it took Sandra Bland’s. And as her death is being investigated by those of “The Law”, I wonder how many of them wear a white sheet when they go home at the end of the day? It’s going to be a long road to freedom, justice, and equality.

     I don’t have time to have an ounce of fear, as there’s work to do. You better believe I will continue traveling down that long road towards freedom, justice, and equality. I don’t have time for doubt either. But I have plenty of time to have faith and hope. I have plenty of time to have strength and courage. I’ll need all four, as I do what I must in 0rder to survive. But I can’t stop at survival. I have to do what I must to be able to live FREELY. I am not an animal to be hunted. We are not animals to be killed for sport. I must do all that I can to make sure that it is understood that BLACK LIVES DO MATTER JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE’S. MY life matters. Sandra Bland’s life STILL matters. I owe Sandra Bland my all and my best.

     Sandra Bland may be physically gone, but her strength, courage, and shining light will certainly live on.

“I think the importance of doing activist work is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider yourself not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever, but to be a part of an ongoing historical movement.”  – Angela Davis