#prayersforbeirut

This past weekend has been heartbreaking. So many people have suffered so much collective grief and trauma in too many places, whether they were nearby the attacks in Paris, Baghdad, and Beirut or not. So many people have yet to suffer the effects to come.

More heartbreaking is the fact that the trauma in Beirut and Baghdad have been forced to take a back seat to France’s grief. Every trauma is devastating and we mourn each one. However, Beirut and Baghdad have been robbed of the media platform to mourn their trauma because Western and non-Muslim empathy is trumping global compassion. As a magazine dedicated to the voices of people of color, this is especially unacceptable.

Together we are one. We are human. You are human. The victims are human. The survivors are human. Their loved ones are human. We have seen just how insidious and horrific human hatred can be. We have also seen incredible compassion and love in the face of this.

To our readers in Paris, Beirut, and Baghdad, we extend our deepest condolences, our tears, and our inbox. If you would like to tell a story, MELANIN is open to your voice. To our readers who have been affected by these senseless tragedies, we do the same. To us all: we are all human. We weep when you weep. We are so sorry. We are here. We are listening.