Signed, A Tired Black Person

I am tired. I am tired of turning on the news and seeing a BLACK person killed over nothing. I am tired of seeing the news cover up the truth and not witnessing justice to be served. I am tired that the KARENS of the world have the privilege to put BLACK people in danger because they can. I am tired of living in fear. I am tired of being scared because I AM BLACK. I am tired of being sick and tired (Fannie Lou Hammer). 

My BLACKNESS does not give you an open pass to kill me. My BLACKNESS does not give you the pass to feel threatened by me because I drive a nice car and a decent job. My BLACKNESS does not permit you to kill me in my own home (Botham Jean). My BLACKNESS does not give you the right to harass me because I like to mind my business (Lolade Slynobola). My BLACKNESS does not permit you to gun me down because I went for a jog (Ahmaud Arbery). My BLACKNESS does not give you access to buss down my door and shoot me in my sleep (Breonna Taylor). My BLACKNESS does not provide you with permission to KICK DOWN MY DOOR and shoot me because I was playing a video game with my nephew (Atatiana Jefferson). My BLACKNESS does not allow you to assume that I am a criminal because I fit a description (Trayvon Martin). My BLACKNESS does not give you the right to kill me.

This is America, the land of the free. Free to allow white people to protest to go to work during a pandemic. Free to let a white man go into a church and kill nine innocent black people. Free to go into a school and kill students and teachers because they were bullied, and that is the only way to express their anger. Land of the free where a white man gets a slap on the wrist and has the opportunity to share his side of the story. Land of the free, where I do not get that chance. Land of the free where my black brothers are constantly scrutinized. When does it end? 

I am tired of crying over our black men because they are not safe. I am exhausted on turning on the news and seeing the reporter portray an innocent man as a “thug.” What is it going to take? How many protests do we need to have? How many black people have to die because white people feel entitled to kill us. I am exhausted. Exhausted of crying over a black person death. Exhausted of texting another hashtag. Exhausted of living in fear. I am EXHAUSTED!!

Dear White People, we are not your target practice.