What It Feels Like To Be A Black Man In 2020
Being a black man in 2020 can be scary. You’re automatically viewed as a threat to some people, unintelligent to others and violet to a select few. Why is that? That is just mind-blowing to me.
History is watching: what will they see?
How will it read? What will they find on our pages?
I personally have had my share of racist interactions, even in a major city like Vancouver, Canada. I’ve had renters ask me if I have any guns or if I’m in a gang. I’ve seen women look up to see me walking towards them only to clutch their purses tighter as they pass me and look over their shoulder as I walk away. I’ve even had kids at a former job ask me if my skin is going to go back to normal. Though my experiences suck, they are NOTHING compared to what others have experienced. For some, it was just feeling bad for a while. For others, it was their life. Need I mention names? George Floyd, 46. Atatiana Jefferson, 28. Breonna Taylor, 26. Stephon Clark, 22. Tamir Rice, 22. Trayvon Martin, 17.
Things have to change. We CANNOT keep going the way things are. Minority groups all around the world are struggling. One of the ways to overcome this is through small, intentional actions. I’ve said this many times before and I will continue to say it. Hold the people directly around you accountable. Don’t allow those “little” racist jokes to slip by. Those ARE what helps to fuel this fire. If some don’t understand how wrong that mindset is, we will always be in the same place. Black Lives Matter isn’t about my life is better than yours. It’s about right now, I need your help more than ever. I need you to stand up for us.
So what does it feel like to be a Black Man in 2020? It’s scary.
The video below is a song I currently have on repeat by the amazing Jake Isaac. Enjoy.
