We have to do something. We have to change it.

It took a week but it really hit me today.

One week ago George Floyd was murdered.

But it took one week for the pain and sadness to hit me.

And it hits.

I can understand some things now that I haven’t really felt before.

I understand the rioting.

Maybe without it, without the continued police violence against bystanders, the noise, the social media clips of cops with tear gas, I wouldn’t have quite understood it.

But I get it and it hurts.

It hurts that people are so divided and that this level of aggression is what it takes to get noticed.

And the lack of leadership from a divisive government is maddening.

Complete lack of trust in the President.

I mean, I already knew his moral compass was off… but he’s a piece of shit.

And on top of all of this, I don’t know what to do.

It’s like Corona all over again.

Confusion, uncertainty, fear, pain.

All over again, three months later.

And then I think about how Black people have this feeling all the time. This is the exact reason this is happening. No solution, no resolve.

Acquittal.

Anger, frustration, sadness, pain… and the cops get let go.

I would protest, too.

But that’s not my life. I’m not a POC and I will never understand. I can only briefly glimpse at another lifelong reality.

The one thing I can say confidently is that sweeping generalizations are not the answer.

Broad stroke assumptions and statements don’t work.

I felt it : all the Instagram posts saying, “Silence is compliance.”

I get it, but up until now, I’ve been silent. I didn’t know what to say.

And that’s ok.

Not everyone needs to say something. You can feel it. You can think it. You don’t need to voice.

But you do need to act it.

Personal action here matters more than anything.

Take action against racist discrimination and bigoted hate. Stand up against racial misconduct.

Even in the micro moments. Even in the micro thoughts.

Fight that ingrained perspective, bias and fear.

It’s not true.

I hope this doesn’t stop. I hope this is the last time. I hope there’s police reform. I hope all those cops get convicted. I hope every cop gets convicted from here on out. I hope things change.

And I just don’t want to hope, I want to do something.

Let’s actually do something.