Free world?

Free World!

How ironic is it that it's in the 'free world' that people get shot because of the color of their skin?

What does freedom mean to you?

Freedom is defined as the right to live without hindrance or enslavement. With this definition in mind, do we live in the free world? From the government to corporations, and even the day to day struggles.

Who do you know that is free of obligations and hindrance? If you agree with my thoughts then you know that life is hard for all of us. Now add racism into the mix.

Imagine walking into a store and having employees immediately start watching your every move because you are black so clearly you are there to steal?

Imagine your coworkers not including you to their little get together after work simply because you are just not the right color!

Imagine dating a girl who fears introducing you to her parents because she knows they will never accept your skin color!

Imagine walking inside an elevator and seeing a lady already clutching her purse tightly with a frightened look on her face because clearly you are black so you will most likely rob them!

Imagine going to a coffee shop with one of your friends who is white, having a waitress come and take your friends order and walk away without even acknowledging you because clearly, you either clearly can't afford the meal or because that restaurant doesn't serve your kind!

Imagine going to a post game celebration and getting jumped out of nowhere by security and police who make comments like ' you people always causes problems!' At least am a person?

Imagine being pulled over by police and despite showing your vehicle ownership information, they still make comments like are 'you sure this car belongs to you?' Yet you can't speak up because you just watched the news and saw multiple blacks being shot by police for trying to explain their actions!

Imagine going to a job and despite being very qualified, you can't help but catch the sneer on the interviewers face because he/she already knows the company doesn't hire people of color for managerial roles. Some even go as far as letting you know that there are lower positions you can apply for!

Imagine getting a job where you get daily comments like 'go back to your country or go find a cotton farm!

Imagine walking down the street and seeing someone risk causing a traffic accident and their life by crossing the street just so they don't have to walk by you because you are black thereby a threat somehow!

Imagine reading comments on the internet like 'black people are violent' and trying think of one time when you were violent to someone and cannot, does that mean you are not black?

Yet we live in the free world!! Free for who??

We live in the age of information and access! Stop dressing up hate in pretty little bows and diluting racism and claiming we have made progress! Who have you asked? These are all real experiences I have had in the last two years in this free country of ours!

We are all here, you can ask us! We are your neighbors, we are your friends, your colleagues, your team mates! Are we conscious of the impact our words and actions have on others?

My friends can bore witness to some of this were outrageous! Some even felt pain on my behalf when they got to see behind the veil of this perfect communities we live in. So now you tell me, am I really free in this free world??

by Enoch W