Forgotten

Forgotten

Distant

Past

That’s what racism is to this country

That’s how racism is treated in this country

That’s how white people move past it

That’s how white fragility moves past it

That’s how white people hide history

That’s how subtle acts of white bliss erase black pain

But we do not forget

But we do not erase

But we do not heal

But we are not fragile

We remain awake

We remain vigilant

We remain. Period

Last night when I saw folks posting that they were proud to be on the cover of Nichols Hills magazine’s final issue of the year I was triggered.

I was in pain

I was astonished

I was ashamed

I was saddened

I was offended

Why you ask?

Because a mere 8.5 months after we all watched George Floyd brutally murdered by white people Nichols Hills magazine is still not inclusive. They didn’t even think twice about publishing a magazine cover with the title of “Let’s celebrate a year with a look back at 2020!” and not include a single black face. Not include any reference or mention of blackness.

Oh yea, that’s right...blackness doesn’t exist in affluent Oklahoma neighborhoods.

Well let me tell you - it does exist. We do exist. Black people built the wealth for this country and most of the generational wealth holders in Nichols Hills. It burns me to the core to see them completely disregard the countless black murders that occurred this year.

It burns me to the core that not a single white person featured on this cover, involved with designing this cover, etc had even an inclining to say “where are our black brothers and sisters in this?”

It burns me to the core to see my white “friends” liking these posts…how can they not see what’s missing?

Black people are missing deleted.

Black people…who they owe so much to.

Black people…who have been so damn patient with them.

Black people…who have loved them so much.

Black people…who have been erased yet they (white “allies”) still like the post and move on.

This my people is how white people erase black history.

This my people is how white people pretend to be surprised that racism still exists even though they all know Treyvon Martin was murdered by their people just 8 yrs ago.

This my people is how easy it is for white people to simply forget.

This my people is how easy it is for white people to not do the work.

This my people is how easy it is for white people to move on.

This my people is how easy it is for white people to check a box by buying black or having a black friend BUT not really do the work of an anti-racist. But not really be anti-oppression. But not really see systemic racism in their daily life and actions.

My blood is boiling with disappointment...because I know that all the words were just words...words with no action because white people can’t even include us in a fucking magazine cover reflecting on 2020. I guess they already conveniently forgot about their slaughtering of black people in 2020.

And for that I mourn. And for that I am terrified. And for that I am deeply disappointed.

And when white people ask me to have grace and mercy with them…or even worse they call me a bully for my words. I can’t help but wonder how they can expect so much from me yet they haven’t even seen me. Because they never really see me until they felt scorched by my words…scorched by the raw honesty…scorched by reading the truth of their existence and it being a truth that is too much for them the comprehend. Why must it get here before you see me…like really fucking see me?

2020 might be over but racism, systemic racism and the oppression and murders of my people…beautiful black people is far from over. And the blood…the blood is on the hands of every white American blindly ignoring us on a daily basis as they absentmindedly celebrate the deletion of blackness.

Happy Fucking New Year america🎉