#black lives are beloved

[queerism1969]

[foreverthirty1]

It’s been 8 years since two white police officers executed 12-year-old Tamir Rice. They shot him through the open window of their car before it had even come to a full stop- that’s how quickly they shot him. The citizen who called 911 to report Tamir said, multiple times, that he was clearly a juvenile and that they were pretty sure the gun he was holding was a fake toy. Multiple times they reiterated that.

I think about this baby all the time. I think about his mother *all* the time. The death of Tamir Rice fundamentally changed something inside of me. It changed my worldview. It changed how I respond to the events around me. It hardened how I view the police in this country and it softened how I view those who push back against them. It changed me. So many incidents, so many unfathomably evil and stunningly wrong incidents, so many countless innocent lives lost to excessive police violence before and since the world lost Tamir Rice. But for me, it always comes back to him. Tamir Rice fundamentally changed my heart and I think about him all the time.

Rest in peace, sweet baby boy.

Black Lives Matter.

[woobosco]

Afro Culture (My Culture)

@woobosco

[kittycatlukey]

If no one loves you, I do; even if I don’t know you, I love you. I adore you. You deserve everything and more. Do good things, and good things will happen to you. Be patient, stay kind, think positive thoughts. Thank you for being here. This is a sign that you deserve to be here, and things are going to go your way. Sending everyone that reads this positive vibes.🍄🌻🐚✨🌈😘✌️

And remember, if you need to talk, I’m here for you always☺️

[sophiagantner]

black lives matter ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

[rancidpancakebatter]

This Post is About BLM and Tyre Nichols so Buckle The Fuck Up

I am a black person. I come from a small, rural town with two stop lights run by a railroad tycoon and "footloose" university. (It's a Christian school and among their vast restrictions is a rule that you can't dance unless at a wedding- hence "footloose"). In my experience growing up, I was the only Black American I knew who wasn't adopted by a rich white family.

My father entered my life when I was thirteen. Before then I was being raised solely by my very gentrified Mexican mother. I knew that I was black but not because I recognised that identity. It was because that is how everyone labelled me. I was not Mexican, I was not white, I was black. Anytime I celebrated my heritage people would grow uncomfortable because why would a black kid speak Spanish? Why would they bring homemade tortillas to lunch? Why would they have a quiñceanera? You are black, act like it.

Since having my father in my life- having his influence, seeing our culture, not through the characterized lens in the media but his- I would say I feel black now. That identity now comes from me, not others. But unfortunately, that growth, that journey, is seen as irrelevant.

I first learned that I was black on the playground in the first grade. A little girl asked me why my hair looked "that way"? At the time I had an afro. I told her I didn't know, it wasn't something I had thought about. She continued to question my appearance: my nose, my lips, my skin. When I wore box braids, years later, for the first time I was chased around that same playground. The children pulled at them; they told me I looked like Medusa. They had created a game in which they would freeze anytime I looked at them. This applied at recess, in the gym, in art class, during lessons, at lunch, in the halls, etc.

That is a very minor form of racism spurred on more by ignorance than hatred, but I have suffered from hatred as well. What I mean to say is I am no stranger to racism. So when I say that as a citizen of the US, I am afraid, I don't say that lightly. I have been stopped randomly by police late at night. I have been unjustly blamed for an altercation just because I was there, so I must have "aggravated the situation."

But the fear I feel is not for me. At the end of the day, I am perceived as a weak woman and I am really good at "white-passing" with my language and mannerisms. However, my father isn't. And he shouldn't have to be. He dresses like a "stereotypical thug" with sagging pants, chains, and durags. He looks nice, I think he looks rather handsome, but I have watched WASP moms cross the street as we walk past them.

It doesn't matter that he is the sweetest man alive. It doesn't matter that he is so crazy in love with his wife and posts every craft she makes on Facebook to brag to all of his friends and family. It doesn't matter that he looks at me like I single-handedly hung every star in the sky. It doesn't matter that he asks for screenshots of my ios theme every week when I change it just so he can tell me it looks pretty. It doesn't matter that he still makes sure that he makes enough food for all of us and freezes my portion so I can have it when I visit. It doesn't matter that despite being a boomer he has a trans son and a queer, non-binary "daughter" that he loves and supports with everything in him. What matters is he's black, and he's dangerous.

Black men are killed every day in the US at the hands of cops. This upsets me of course, but it hurts me personally as well. How many others have nightmares where they get a call from their mother to tell them their father was killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? How many others see the headline "Cops killed another black man" and hold their breath as they scroll to see if it was their brother? How many others make sure to keep their hands in their jeans pockets and their hood off so they don't look as threatening. How many others were taught what to do when pulled over in a car before they learned how to turn the car on? How many others live in this reality?

I see the conversation around Tyre Nichols and it breaks my heart. He was nine years my senior with a wife and child. He was active in his community. He liked to skateboard. He was a lot like me. And he was brutally beaten and murdered. That's insane. That could have been me. That could have been my brother, or his. It could have been my father. And my heart breaks for his family. I respect them for the spotlight they are taking. The justice that they are demanding.

Recently one of his family members posted a video of him. They said that when the body cam footage was released that it was going to circulate. That his death was going to circulate. And they wanted to share a video of him living. And I think that's really beautiful. Often times we get swept up in our anger, our fear, and we forget momentarily that their life was not just this one instance. Tyre Nichols existed before this.

I will always be afraid of when I will have to do the same thing. When I will have to beg people to remember that my father, my brother, were so much more than just victims. My father is a chef, he is a kind neighbour, he is an amateur gardener. My brother is loved, doing well in his transition, a shoulder to cry on, and the life of the party. They are such beautiful and important people.

So, I beg you. Be angry. Protest. Riot. Make your voice heard. Help this family try and right a wrong that can never be brought to true justice. But don't forget who they're fighting for. Say his name. But also share his story. Not just the ending.

[b-m-s-c]

[wildflowersnweed]

If you think All Lives Matter, GTFO. We are going to talk on how Black Lives Matter. Because white people will never understand what they face and go through on a daily basis. You only see what you wanna see. Black Lives Matter because black lives are being taken daily due to racism. White lives are not. I don’t care to hear about how you’ve faced racism as a white person. This is not about YOU. This is about THEM. Let these people shine for fuc*ing once in their lives. Let these people scream that they are TIRED! Let us Allie’s support these people and help get their story out there. Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem!!!

[jalloweenknight]

I'm just saying:

[imaslutforcuddles]

JUSTICE FOR TYRE NICHOLS

Tyre Nichols was a father, son, and overall good soul. He deserved to life a long and beautiful life. He loved Photography, Skateboarding, Sunsets, and many other things. REMEMBER TYRE NICHOLS FOR WHO HE WAS NOT HOW HE DIED!!!!

His mother has set up a funding for her family and a memorial state park in his name. If you can’t donate, please spread awareness, share, and remember him.

HE DESERVES JUSTICE JUST LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY. SAY HIS NAME!!!!

[queerism1969]

[new-nublaccsoul]

Faceless. || Our flaws:

No solo is at fault.

She did it.

It wasn’t me.

The devilish deeds were done by him.

Her stone offered the fatal blow.

Fabrics of the minds

that were once woven

and sown as one,

now tread apart 

as threads now seem to leave the womb seams.

The last sound was a screeching scream. 

Only sightings of shadows spotted at the scene,

where we were

once a society. // #nublaccsoul #socialcommentary #poetry

#poetryslam #poetrycommunity #poetryofinstagram #chickenslayingeggsontheroof #poetryofig #spokenword

written by Phila Dyasi @philadyasi

Published by: NuBlaccSoul @nublaccsoul (C) 2016-2018. Copyrighted January

2016 NuBlaccSoul™. All rights reserved. Please quote poem with author name, poem title and date published if sharing to external sites without the link or/and if sharing an excerpt of the poem.

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A post shared by nublaccsoul™ | new-black-soul (@nublaccsoul)

[duckiesarentuselessbitch]

So a kid in class today asked me if I was white or black when i tell u i have this man the world's ugliest look ever.So o just said "both u ugly piece of shi-"

I hate kids...despite being one..

[kittycatlukey]

[sophiagantner]

blm✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

<3

[woobosco]

Sign this petition!

This petition is for Karon Blake. ��A 13 year old black boy who was gun down by a white man whom he said a defenseless and unarmed 13 year old was a threat. Please sign this petition if you have a heart for black lives. Thank you! (More of Karon Blake’s story in the link)

https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-arrest-in-karon-blake-murder?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_35458107_en-US%3A7&recruiter=1228255553&recruited_by_id=03e82ce0-22e7-11ec-9f10-61c33ef05671&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=share_for_starters_page&share_bandit_exp=initial-35458107-en-US