COLORS

 

they told them all the good never mentioning the bad 

they showed them how they could live wearing their colored rags, now it is so sad, that their lives had to end in such a tragic way, 

nothing we could,do nothing we could say 

         they had all the answers, now they are gone today they chose this life for many reasons, making all the wrong moves losing their lives, what did they have to proved killing, for a color hating one another

they told them all the good never mentioning the bad
that showed the how they could live wearing their colored rags,

  just what does it mean, this color, they said 
that  if a man wears the wrong color shirt on the wrong side of town, 
that he wouldn't make it home he would be shot down

no man should have to die because of the color he wears
the places he chose to go he should be safe there

they're killing or future
disgracing our past

how long will this madness go on
how long can our young black men last

    they told them all the good never mentioning the bad
now their gone today what men we could have had

Kortni Quick

May 29, 2020  ·

I am white.

I am from Cullman, Alabama.

And I am fucking outraged.

Racism isn't anything new to me. I hail from the land of "don't let the sun set on your black ass." I live less than a mile from a field where KKK rallies were known to be held until I was about 7. I've seen "Heritage not Hate" so many times it's permanently etched into the back of my eyelids. I've seen young black men expelled from their high school because someone called them the "N-Word" and no one stood up for them. I've heard whispers of "she dated a black boy," and "they never come this far into town." 5 years ago the KKK left a bag full of candy on my doorstep with a flyer inviting me to a rally. My best friend (who is married to a black man) got a bag of rocks.

See, when Sandra Bland was murdered I kept my mouth shut. "It's not my battle," I thought.

When Trayvon Martin was murdered I said nothing while everyone whispered that a teenager shouldn't have worn a hoodie. "He knew what he looked like," resonated through my town like a chant at a football game. I told myself, "I have no idea what these people are going through. I have no right to speak on their behalf."

When Tamir Rice, a 12 year old boy, was murdered in cold blood for playing with a toy I held my baby a little closer. I was fearful that he would grow up in a world where his friends would be executed. I was furious, I was scared, and I kept my mouth shut. "What do I know about oppression?"

I've sat and been silent while countless black men and women were murdered in the street. I've fought quiet battles in private, but never openly for fear of saying something wrong or not having all the facts straight. I did not want to do more harm than good by being uneducated or inexperienced.

When George Floyd was murdered it awakened something in me. I'm tired of keeping my mouth shut. I'm tired of standing idly by while innocent people are MURDERED. I do not care that he may or may not have been writing a bad check. Do you know what the penalty is for that? It's a fucking misdemeanor.

Dear black people:

I see you. I hear you. And I stand with you. I will not let this fall to the wayside as so many other senseless deaths have. I will not forget. I will fight for you.

I will stand and film if you are pulled over, even if it means I "rock the boat."

I will stand with you on the courthouse steps, even if it disappoints the people from my town.

I will fight with you, even if it means I may be hurt.

I will use my privilege to help you in whatever way I can. I swear it.

Dear white people:

Do not be silent. Do not be fearful. Stand up for what is right.

If it was my son, or my brother, or my father that was murdered heads would roll.

Do not speak to me about how "rioting wasn't the answer" when they've been peacefully protesting since before you were born.

Do not speak to me about "not all police," when it IS in fact "all black people."

Do not speak to me about percentages and black on black crime while you don't have to worry every single day if your son is going to come home safe.

Do not defend the actions of murderers and try to justify it by pulling out every bad thing their VICTIM ever did.

I'm tired, y'all. I'm tired of seeing a world filled with hate. This is not the world that I want for us. It's not the world I want for our children. And I will do whatever I have to to ensure that things change. Regardless of consequence.

#NoJusticeNoPeace #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #BLACKLIVESMATTER #myProblemTOO