Why now? I have been grappling with this question for days. Why, eight days after the public murder of a black man, am I finally beginning to dismantle my own biases and racism. Why now, after 42 years, am I realizing being a ‘good person’ isn’t good enough.
Why not 82 days ago, when Breonna Taylor was killed?
Or 101 days ago, when Ahmaud Arbery was gunned down.
How about 235 days ago? Could I have begun 235 days ago, when Atatiana Jefferson was murdered?
Or 431 days ago, Ashanti Carmon.
1428 days ago, Philando Castile.
1785, Sandra Bland.
1887, Walter Scott.
2020 days ago, Tamir Rice.
2125, Michael Brown.
3020, Trayvon Martin.
4939, Sean Bell.
Why didn’t I join the fight 7790 days ago when Amadou Diallo was shot 41 times?
Or 10,685 days ago after watching Rodney King get brutalized on national television.
Why was I not born INTO the fight?
16,255 – Bernard Whitehurst
19,608 – Matthew Johnson
23,656 days – Emmett Till
This is my personal shame and our national reckoning. We have failed. Over and over and over again.
The next time you wonder why the black community is so angry – the better question to ask is why aren’t you?
We have too many days to make up for. It will never be enough. But it will be something.
So, 82 or 7,790 or 23,656 days from now, our children won’t be asking ‘Why now?’
//header photo by LeShon Lee (@leshon_lee)
thoroughly modern molly 