Warning: This post is full of emotion, bias, and strong opinions.
I am sick and tired of seeing “black lives don’t matter when…” If you are one of those people that seems to believe that you have the power to choose when a life does or does not matter I have no need for you in my life. Stop taking all these ridiculous stories you hear about something a black teenager did and saying the black community is corrupt.
People of every race drink, do drugs, shoot guns, etc. The fact of the matter is, you don’t know anybody’s intent without asking them. And, even if you ask them, people lie for any number of reasons. So really, you never truly know what somebody else is thinking. Even when you get as close as possible, your own biases still cloud your view. So please STOP acting like you know the details.
#BlackLivesMatter isn’t about preserving people’s opinions about those who make mistakes. It’s about educated, hard working individuals who are SICK AND TIRED of your shit. It’s about people who are DONE fighting for respect, but will not STOP FIGHTING until they get what they deserve. Isn’t that all the naysayers want? For “black people” to get what they deserve? That’s what I think. But again, I don’t know.
Regardless of what happens, past present or future, I am not going to stand tall and say a person didn’t deserve to live. But what is living? What is the purpose of life? That’s your decision. You get to decide what you want your purpose to be. Other people get to decide whether they agree with your purpose or not and talk shit about you if they so desire. What you do not get to choose is your skin color. You do not get to choose the neighborhood you grow up in. You do not get to choose your family situation growing up. You do not get to choose the education you’re given early in life. BUT THESE ARE ALL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE OUR FUTURES TREMENDOUSLY! Yes, they can be overcome. No, they cannot be overcome easily for everyone.
Stand up for what you believe in.
Go chase your dreams and achieve your goals.
Prove people wrong by showing them they’re wrong.
Make everybody else shut up about anything you don’t want to hear about yourself.
Advocate for those without a voice.
Use your abilities to help them chase their dreams and achieve their goals.
Cascade the effect of proving people wrong by helping someone else do it.
Conquer hate. Spread love.
She’s Got a Whole PhD 