On one of my old laptops the background represents who I am deep down inside. It’s this background of some roses, so vibrant and full of life, with the words “Thug Life” written across the middle. You couldn’t tell me I wasn’t about to get that tattoo either – the one tattoo my mom pleaded against [shrug emoji]. I wanted it because the love for Tupac is real and I NEEDED a tattoo that represents him. I never got that tattoo but now I think I should have because who I currently am is described as a thug either way. I’m a Black woman in America who is unapologetically Black and wants equality and peace for all Black people here in the year 2020. That’s a lot for a racist to handle.
By definition the term “thug” describes a violent person, typically a criminal. We all know this term became popular to use in describing mainly Black men to aid in the mass incarceration agenda that is still in effect today. But, per usual, my people have taken the term and given it positive meaning. Some will use the word as a term of endearment to show that someone has heart – so when we (Black people) call an individual a thug, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s just another slang term that we had to take back. Tupac’s “Thug Life” tattoo even had a deeper meaning: “The Hate You Give Little Infants F*cks Everybody” and I see that still reigns true today. But I’m not about to give an MLK speech about learning to peacefully love one another. That’s the type of thing that people love to quote when injustice has been done in hopes to try to keep people down and quiet instead of speaking out on the truth. Dr. King gave those speeches and sermons himself and ended up assassinated anyway. Tell me where the peace is in that [eye roll]. Well we the Black people are TIRED! This week alone I’ve shed too many tears for men and women I never even knew. I’m so tired of seeing video after video of unarmed Black people being gunned down by racist white people. Do they not have enough privilege? Do they not have enough history of sabotaging Black people? Are they mad that the crack they put… nevermind. But nah my beef isn’t only with the racist people who get away with MURDER, my beef is with the non-Blacks who claim to also love and care about me but sit around and say NOTHING. Your silence is deafening, sweetheart. Here I am having an emotional roller coaster of a week because my fellow Black people are suffering unjust consequences to minimal actions by people who think they’re God and you, my so called friend/acquaintance/wingman, sit on the sidelines watching and saying nothing. You can’t be a silent partner in times like this.
I. Am. Tired.
But I know we will prevail as long as we remember that this is a WE thing. Greatness comes from Black people – our culture is heavy on the influence of others. The internet is filled with your favorite non-Black celebrity taking something from Black people and displaying it as their own: from hair to nails, music to style…. hell they even try to rob the very right of using slang terms that we’ve changed the narrative on FOR US (like non-Black people all want the right to say the N word so bad but forget where it comes from and want nothing to do with what comes with it). Be blind if you want to though. You’re either with us or against us. Black women wear long colorful nails with designs and colorful hair and it’s seen as ghetto but non-Black women do it and it’s the new style trend. People want peaceful demonstrations like Dr King but get mad at Kaep for taking a knee. People riot for sports events but when Black people do it because we’re sick of being killed for selling CD’s or playing with toys or sleeping in our own home or going to the store or – I could literally go on for too long on this… we riot for injustice and it’s seen as a capital crime! White people can stand in front of police with assault rifles just because they can’t get a haircut or drink at their favorite bar and live to see tomorrow while being called “good people.” Black people stand in front of those same police armed with signs and cellphones to protest the alarming rate that unarmed Black people are targeted by police and get tear gassed and shot with rubber bullets while also being called “thugs.” If we have to continue being given the label of thug then I guess we should use it wisely To Help Us Grow. See every time they try to take us out, we come back. They tried to break us down but we keep showing that we’re relentless. I’m extremely proud to be Black. Our history shows strength despite the actions of others trying to take us out. I’ll be Black until the day I die. But what I won’t be is quiet about injustice based off the color of my skin and I won’t be quiet to make anybody else feel comfortable. If you feel a type of way about my words then that’s a YOU problem and it’s unbecoming of you, darling. I said what I said. Now please excuse me as I’ll be screaming “Thug Life!” until the death of me.
Prayers to all those on the frontlines fighting for my Black life.
CheckMyLipss 