Once again, I spent the day and night being sad yet unsurprised, angry about yet immune to the injustices that continue to plague black people in this country. Hearing the news that Breonna Taylor’s killers won’t have any charges brought against them set my soul on fire, and not in a good way. As usual, the victim of murder at the hands of the people who are supposed to protect and serve gets no justice from the system that is supposed to bring justice “for all”. It’s always the same story, which is why we’re no longer surprised. But it’s ALWAYS the same story, which is why we’re still so outraged!

If you have Black friends, trust me when I tell you that they are NOT ok right now! And if they say they’re ok when you ask them, trust me when I tell you they’re lying. And they’re probably lying because they don’t want to have to take the time, through their grief, to sit there and explain to someone why they’re not ok. They’re probably laughing and joking and posting funny memes on Facebook because it gives them just the tiniest moment to take a break from thinking about being Black in America. If you haven’t asked your Black friends if they’re ok yet, please don’t. I’m telling you the answer so you don’t even have to ask. Because at this point, we don’t need people to “check on” us anymore. We need people to be outraged with us. We need people to demand justice with us. We need people to FIGHT with us.

We need a consistent fight that doesn’t die down. We need to stop going through the same cycle — unarmed Black person gets murdered, America erupts in protests and riots that eventually die down, America’s “justice system” fails the victim, America erupts in protests and riots that eventually die down, unarmed Black person gets murdered, rinse and repeat. We can’t let the fight die down, we can’t let it smolder. We need to follow Portland’s example. Prior to the wildfires, Portland had been protesting for more than 100 days. They didn’t let up. And after a short hiatus, they started protesting again. They refuse to let that energy die. That example needs to be followed everywhere. We cannot let up! The fight has to continue! The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 381 days. Change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and we have to stay strong until the end. We have to make our voices heard. We have to keep demanding justice until we get the justice we deserve!

Everybody’s fight in this war isn’t going to look the same. The battle isn’t just on the frontlines with protesting. Fighting is also behind the scenes. Fighting is also donating to organizations that are committed to this war. Fighting is also voting out the people in office who are still ok with what we see going on, which includes voting in local elections. Fighting is also calling your elected officials to demand justice for the victims that we will unfortunately continue to see. Fighting is also teaching your children about America’s REAL history so they can grow up and make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself. Fighting is also speaking up when your family, friends and coworkers feel comfortable enough to say something racist.

Fighting is also standing up to ignorance on social media. And miss me with the “I don’t like to talk about politics” shit. Because let’s keep it all the way real, the injustices against Black people in this country are more than just a political issue. They are a human rights issue, a human decency issue. A woman was murdered in her sleep, by POLICE who wrongfully invaded her home, and not one of her murderers will be charged for killing her. She was murdered in her sleep and one officer was charged for endangered her neighbors while firing his gun but wasn’t charged for ACTUALLY killing her! That is MORE than political. If you can’t speak up and speak out in objection of that, then I already know where you stand. If you can’t say Black Lives Matter, then I already know how you feel. Not wanting to talk about it tells me that you’re either on the wrong side of this movement or that you’re afraid of how people will look at you if they realize that you’re on the *right* side of this movement. Either way, I’m not here for it or for you.

Black people are tired. We are exhausted. We are constantly reminded that our lives don’t matter in this country. We are constantly reminded that no one is safe. Our parents are not safe. Our spouses are not safe. Our family members and friends are not safe. Our kids are not safe. Black men, women and children are not safe in this country. We are not safe! Do you know how exhausting it is to know that, to have to worry about that on top of all the other “regular” shit you already have to worry about?

Trust me when I tell you, your black friends are not ok! We are tired, but we are still fighting because don’t get to let up!