06/18/2020
Hi, my name is Hannah, I’m a black sophomore college student, and one of the admins for CHS Students for Black Lives.
In case it wasn’t abundantly clear enough, I will say it again: black lives matter.
Seeing & hearing about racism and police brutality isn’t pretty, it isn’t comfortable, it hurts. I can’t speak for other black people, but it has filled me with feelings of hopelessness, loneliness and powerlessness daily knowing that despite doing nothing wrong, even living my life perfectly, even following every law, that my skin will ultimately decide my fate and my worth in the eyes of others. It isn’t a black square on your instagram or facebook feed. It is the day to day reality for black people. We don’t get to delete our picture at the end of the day and live normally. We live racism, we live police brutality, this is being black in America... Where doing nothing or committing a crime equals the punishment of death in the eyes of the law enforcement. Our skin is not a weapon. Don’t slow down & speak up. The time is now for change.
This is a picture that I took yesterday at the Mother Emanuel AME church where 9 innocent church goers’ lives were taken and 5 bystanders lives were changed forever at the hand of white supremacy 5 years ago. We will never forget the sacrifice they made that night. We will never forget the Charleston 9 and everyone else who has died in the face of systematic racism, white supremacy, and oppression in this country.
Once again: black lives matter. Black lives are important. Black lives are beautiful.
