Never in my life have i seen so many people come together in one space; not to celebrate or party like we used to when the summer months rolled around. The picture above is one of the favorites that I'd taken last weekend at the protest in my city. Now I'd seen plenty of photos of previous protests all over the world and finally when i got to partake and speak my truth it was probably one of the most empowering moments of my life.
I am very perceptive when it comes to energy, (weird family gift) and the power that sat in the air last saturday was something to be remembered. I know that everyone there will not forget it either.
As a black woman in America i have experienced racism more times than i can count. It has followed me throughout my life. Even when i was too small to understand why i never received an award for a competition i should have rightfully won. Only to have my father come and tell me on our way home that the reason i did not win was because the judges in my competition were disgusted that a "little black girl" was even riding and could afford a horse. That was the day my small mind started to become aware of the truth behind my family's fears and warnings.
Crazily the racism followed me like a plague all the way to Arizona. Living there was one of the best and worst times. So many things that broke me down and tested my strength, even as a child was double on top of being alone in my skin color. For a long time i had to fight back alone. And to be quite frank fighting alone is like screaming into a huge auditorium and the crown saying that they cannot hear you and do not even care about what you have to say.
Recently, I have experienced a different form of disrespect. It came in the form of my job. I have been a supervisor at my job for over a year now. I take my work seriously yet still try to keep a humorous air while trying to no lose my mind when we get swamped with orders.
But, on Saturday afternoon i was preparing to leave to join the protestors heading to City Hall. Many protestors passed my store and were beyond friendly when they met me. Two girls whose names escape me sadly offered me signs for when i joined them later. I kindly accepted and vowed to find them over near city hall once i was allowed to leave. But before i could leave the owner of my store came in and saw the signs in front of me. He took one that read "BLACK LIVES MATTER!" without asking me first and placed it on the window outside. His returning words to hanging the sign were "Whatever keeps these people from destroying the store. if it works it works."
i was taken aback and am still angry as i reiterate what happened to you all today. But, unfortunately, the problem does not stop there. About twenty minutes later a good friend of mine arrived to start his shift. He quickly answered the delivery phone and began taking an order. After taking the order he heard the owner say to him. "Hey Rich, i need you in the front because i want people to see that we hire black people here."
It made me sick to my stomach when i was told what happened to him not five minutes after i left. A sour taste still sat in my mouth from the words i was still trying to digest. I felt insulted, belittled, and made to be a pawn in what he thought is a "Game."
Nothing about this situation, these marches, the outrage, is a game. Our struggle, and our pain, and our fear, is not something for you to make a quick dollar off of. There were so many things I wanted to say; honestly my friend and I were prepared to never step foot back inside that place. I informed my general manager of the two incidents and how they made us feel and she said something to the owner about how his ignorance needed to be kept to himself. He gave me and my co-worker a phone call yesterday and I am going to keep it real with all of you it was the driest apology that he didn't even mean. He was laughing for most of the phone call and refused to address that what bothered me was not him taking the sign instead of having made one himself considering the people that work the hardest for you are black, it was because of the words that he had the audacity to say in our faces like there was nothing wrong with them. He tried to make it seem as if i was making a huge deal over a SIGN when he knew that it was larger than that.
For such a long time my people have had to remain silent. There is a large problem all over the world that many try to ignore as if it is not there. They ignore the official numbers of blacks outweighing any other race in prisons. the incarceration rate is so much higher for people of darker skin. Or how health care being out of reach for us causes more sicknesses and deaths in black people. Or how many hospitals have voiced their dislike of treating black young mothers because black women are more prone to pregnancy complications. Or even how hard it is still for us to obtain land, good credit, stability. We are constantly at war with the rest of the world to just make a living. So to see so many people taking up my cities streets to voice the mistreatment of black people was amazing. Seeing so many different races and people come together for one common goal brought tears to my eyes. Seeing everyone with their fists in the air, fighting for black lives was incredible and i want to thank all of those people sincerely for coming out and standing with us because we needed this. We need everyone to make a change within the system and within themselves.
But hold on; i have not forgotten about COVID-19 as many government officials would like you to. Please if you are out there with us please be sure to wear a mask, carry lots of water, and keep on standing up for what you believe in because if we don't, no one will. So please, to every person reading this, stay safe, and keep fighting. For one African- American woman to the rest of the world i would like to thank you again.
May the odds be ever in our favor.
About the Creator
Bri Price
One woman in a sea of people, trying to bring fantasy just a bit closer to reality.
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