I Always Wondered...

I always wondered how people sat idly, just living their lives while segregation was law, while people of color were being degraded and murdered. You know, way back in the 1950s and 60s.

Now I get it.

Because that’s exactly what I have been doing.

Because all of that is still happening.

And it never stopped happening.

But when you are wrapped in privilege, it is more expedient to ignore it.

You can easily reach the point where you convince yourself that it is the past and now we are better.

But you know it’s not true.

Deep down, you know it’s not true.

Because you hear people talk.

People you like or even love.

You hear them say things.

Things that make your stomach churn and your skin crawl.

But you keep silent.

Because silence is easy.

Silence is safe.

You don’t want to cause trouble.

But silence can be trouble.

Actually, silence is the real trouble.

Remember all those people from way back when?

The ones you judge so harshly?

They were silent.

And so are you.

And now you are one of them.

But, really, you always have been.

And you’ve always known it.

You just didn’t want to see.

It’s time for the silence to end, I have enough blood on my hands already.

Black Lives Matter.