I used to be in support of the death penalty, or at least the idea of it I suppose. In theory, the death penalty holds merit for prosecution of crimes that I believe are inhumane. I do not disagree with capital punishment as a concept as many may, but I do in America. An evaluation of the death penalty in the United States and the disproportionate sentencing of black men to death row for crimes against whites since the civil rights movement changed my mind.

Systemic racism can be seen so clearly in what we call our justice system than any other institution in our country. Black men make up the highest percentages of those in jail, see more jail time for offenses, and are sentenced to death by persecution something like 4 times more than whites. To add insult to injury we have innocent men convicted everyday or those who may not be innocent but are not given a fair shot at justice and what our system is supposed to represent.

I cannot say if Troy Davis was innocent or guilty, only he knew and God knows. However, when you have a case like his where witnesses recant stories and admit to be pressured by police to convict him, among other issues but is still sentenced to death and ultimately dies, where is the justice in that? Black men especially have been going to jail and being lynched for crimes against whites since the beginning of America. Democracy cannot be real in a place where whites are hardly convicted for crimes against blacks and black on black crime isn’t even worth talking about yet black men die because of crimes against whites.

It used to be that our men were hung because of “raping white women” most of which were lies. But as time went on, anything was good enough to lynch a black man. One of my favorite movies though most disturbing movies in my opinion is Rosewood. Rosewood takes a historical look at one town in Florida that was turned upside down by lies, racism and hatred. How is the state of Georgia today any different from the Florida of 1923?

Troy Davis’ execution is just a magnified view of what takes place in our communities across America everyday!!! We lynch each other in the ignorant violence that plagues our communities. The police lynch us daily, and the government lynches us all; white, black, brown, yellow and red alike.

Niggas get lynched is not about blaming people or reverse racism. It is about bringing awareness to the fact that race relationships in America are still strained. It is about the inequality I fear will follow America to its death. It is about the failure of our justice system to stand up for what is right, but instead worries about what is white. Niggas get lynched is a reality of the world we live in, face every day, and yet still are not in an uproar about it. I am disgusted by the lack of action today among black and white Americans alike around issues like this. And in all honesty, until we are ready to no longer accept life for what it is, niggas will continue be lynched.

Potential is defined as existing in possibility: capable of development into actuality. Sadly, we live our lives in this area and never venture out into the actuality. Having been in New York for a month now and reflecting on both the economic and social environment here and back home in Chicago, I am disheartened by the reality of what has come to be the livelihood of people. Growing up, I was always amazed at the potential of the black boys and men in particular, but also black girls, who were around me and that I would encounter. As I grew older, I realized that the potential never became anything else, it simply remained potential, which if not developed into anything else, never becomes anything and thus is wasted potential.

When I arrived here in Buffalo, I was appalled! It looks like a huge ghetto. The first side of town I went to I thought, oh my, this is the hood. Then I got to my neighborhood and I thought; now this is really the hood. But then I saw the Eastside of town and thought to myself, this is the real hood! How is it an entire city, as old as it is still looks like a huge ghetto I thought to myself?

But then I thought back to all those people in Chicago who simply dwelt in potential but never explored the possibilities of what could be. The same was true for the city of Buffalo. Buffalo, an old, industrial city, is stuck! As I drive on the different highways and through the city that is surrounded by water and beauty, it saddens me to think of it as the 3rd poorest city in the United States.

Does Buffalo not see the potential it has I wonder? How can an entire city be content with living in possibility, in the capability to become something great and not accept the challenge? 

A message for colored women living in America. Reflection from last week.

As I ride on the bus for the 3rd time today, on my way back to work, I see young girls getting on and off the bus. One young girl gets on the bus, probably no older that 11 years old. She's a beautiful dark African girl with skin the color of midnight and as smooth as dark chocolate. As I admire her beauty, I can't help but notice the Puerto-Rican girl she passes by to sit down, probably no older than 17. Equally beautiful with golden caramel skin, I am taken aback by the stark differences in their face. The young African girl, still at the age of not having a care in the world, unaware of the racism and prejudices that await her, she smiles so brightly! But the Puerto-Rican girl, being only a few years older, but now realizing what life has to offer or rather has failed to offer her, frowns so deeply!

What looks like a frown to an outsider has probably just become her regular face, a reflection of daily pains and struggles. But the young African girl has so much in store for her. What may not happened, but more often than not does happen, come the next year or so, she will be questioned about her dark skin. She will be shunned because of her dark skin. She will begin to question herself and her family about her dark skin. And in some way, she will begin to internalize the hate from others and grow to hate her dark skin. Now it's possible that her family instills in her the belief that she is indeed beautiful and if strong enough to handle the ridicule will herself believe it. 

But if not, her smile will too become a frown. 

Hoping that my ray of light that day could possibly help her not to lose her smile, I turn around and tell her that she is so beautiful and I love her skin. She smiles so big and says "thank you", then continues on with conversation. So I wonder how many of us, if we daily had someone tell us that we are beautiful would never lose our smiles? How many of us, if only we could tell ourselves that we are beautiful and that be enough could carry on throughout life smiling instead of frowning?

I don't know those numbers but I do know that women are beautiful creations, regardless of the color of our skin. But ignorance, fear, and prejudice has led us to believe different. For women, colored or white, I beg you to look yourself in the mirror once a day and say that you are beautiful. Don't wait for anyone to tell you, tell yourself, even if you don't believe it. 

Some things become truth when we tell ourselves them enough. Let your beauty become truth for you. Love you. And never, never lose your smile from the outside to the inside! 

Much love :)