Julian M.C.

We were brought here in chains, against our will. Beaten, raped, abused, and then tortured if we fought back. Our men valued for their strength and brawn until that physicality no longer lined your pockets, and then we became frightening and aggressive. We were lynched, terrorized in our own country, and denied the rights that we were entitled to in our own Constitution. We served our nation to secure freedom for the world, only to return to a nation in which we ourselves were not free. We are targeted, harassed, falsely accused and then told we bring this on ourselves because we do not “act like the rest of society.” But did any of the above happen to the rest of society? I’m tired. Tired of smoothing your ruffled feathers in my presence because of your fear. Tired of being exceptional so that I can be treated like “the rest of society.” I’m tired of having to argue my humanity to you. But most of all, tired of looking into the faces of my little boys, and feeling like I have to extinguish their joy, their exuberance, because you think “black men are more dangerous than men of other races.” My boys like Pokemon, probably like your boys. My boys play soccer, probably like your boys. My boys are bright, and curious and gifted, probably like your boys. But my boys will be hunted. Will yours?