#BlackExperience

Today on Twitter, I started a hashtag. I didn't think anything big would become of it nor was I expecting a huge response. Boy was I wrong. 

#BlackExperience was that hashtag. 

Those of you reading this who are people of color know what #BlackExperience is. #BlackExperience is that series of defining moments that remind you that you aren't the same as "them", with "them" being white people.

My white friends, if you're reading this and it makes you uncomfortable, good. You NEED to make yourself uncomfortable to understand what the #BlackExperience is. It's definitely not comfort for people of color. #BlackExperience is living in a state of discomfort for so long that we don't know what "comfort" feels like. In some cases, that #BlackExperience comes so early in our lives that we never know what comfort feels like. 

What exactly is #BlackExperience you ask? #BlackExperience is the story of the first time you were called a n*gger. It's the first time you experienced racism from white people, likely being under the age of 10. #BlackExperience is what you go through daily in your predominately white work place. It's having racial epithets yelled at you by passers-by while you wait on the bus stop. 

Frankly stated, #BlackExperience are those daily occurrences black people have experienced since before we could even speak that remind us that we're black. 

On Twitter today, I asked people to share three things: "When was the first time you were called n*gger? When was the LAST time you were called n*gger? When was the last time you experienced blatant racism?" The answers, both in quality and quantity, blew me away. 

Some people experienced being called a n*gger as young as age five. For some, their first time being called a n*gger was by a teacher or person of authority. And for some others, they told stories of being called n*gger leading to physical violence. 

The story that broke my heart most was of someone who had their skin clawed at by a little white boy because he wanted to "scratch the black off." These stories were the catalyst for me starting the hashtag #BlackExperience. 

I want the hashtag to be a meeting place where we feel comfortable enough to share our feelings and thoughts regarding our racist interactions with non-people of color, as well as a well-spring of knowledge and learning for white allies and potential white allies to assist them in checking their privilege. I don't expect the conversations taking place under the hashtag #BlackExperience to change the world, but if they've changed one mind...opened one set of eyes, I feel good about it. 

My plan is to continue having these conversations about the #BlackExperience on my Twitter timeline, while possibly bringing the conversation to my Facebook timeline as well. I'd like to make this a weekly conversation where I ask prompt questions to get the discussion going. If nothing becomes of this? That's fine. But I'd like to try. 

Sister Assats Shakur said "It is our duty to fight for freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains." It is my duty to be steadfast after the freedom of people who look like me. 

Let's start that discussion. 

When was the first time you were called a n*gger? Share your experiences in the comments below. 

I Told Myself I Wouldn't Blog About Trayvon...

...but pictures like this one just break my heart man.


This is going to be a bit lengthy, so bear with me. First, let me say this. If strictly looking at the facts and the way they were presented in the case, am I surprised that George Zimmerman was acquitted? No. Not in the slightest. The prosecution did a PISS poor job of presenting evidence to support that Zimmerman was guilty of Florida's definition of 2nd degree murder and manslaughter.

However....

...my emotions want justice. Unfortunately, as I have intimated several times since Saturday's acquittal, it seems there is no justice in this country for Blacks. As someone on my Facebook timeline said, "I am sad, but not surprised. What makes me sad is that I'm not surprised."

What that means is that it seems cases like this have become the norm. Don't believe me? Google these names:


Ervin Jefferson

Amadou Diallo

Patrick Dorismond

Oscar Grant

Sean Bell

Aaron Campbell

Victor Steen

Jordan Davis

Kimani Gray

Alonzo Ashley




All of the above were under the age of 30. Don't care to research? Here are some with a brief explanation of the occurrence.


Kenneth Harding, Jr. Shot by police after he supposedly shot at police. Witnesses didn't see Harding with gun. Allowed to bleed out at scene.

Kiwane Carrington. "Accidentally" shot & killed after police stopped him for attempting to break into what turned out to be his own home.


Reginald Doucet Jr. 25. Unarmed. Shot & killed by officers in front of his home after a night out. Officers not charged in shooting.


Raheim Brown, Jr. 20. Shot 5 times, twice in head after police claimed he attacked them with screwdriver. Witness said no attack occurred.


Derrick Gaines. 15. Shot & killed after being stopped by police. Police claim he drew a weapon. Eyewitnesses report no weapon was drawn.


Rekia Boyd, 22. Shot in head during when an officer fired blindly at a nearby suspect. Charges dropped when officer didn't show up to court.


Steven Washington, 27. Autistic. Shot in head & killed when officers thought he was drawing a weapon. He was unarmed. Officers not charged.


Robbie Tolan. Unarmed. Shot in his driveway when officers suspected the car he was driving was stolen. Tolan owned car. Officers acquitted.


Aiyana Jones, 7. Unarmed. Shot in head/neck & killed when officers raided home in Detroit in an attempt to arrest her father


Deandre Brunston, 24. Unarmed. After a standoff with police, the officers fired 81 shots at him - 22 of which hit Brunston's body. A police dog that was injured during crossfire was airlifted to a vet center, while Brunston was left bleeding out where he lay.


All of those people, also under the age of 30. What is a young black person's life worth in America? The justice system apparently feels that it's not worth any jail time, that's for sure. 

The Black community in America is hurting, and will hurt for a long time because of Trayvon Martin. I think what has saddened us so much is that we felt like this time would be different. Maybe, just maybe this time, we would see the man who admittedly killed this young boy, be brought to justice. This man who disobeyed an order from a police dispatcher to not approach Trayvon. This man who I have no doubts would not have approached Trayvon had he been a white kid wearing a hoody walking in that neighborhood. Instead, we sat and watched as this man was allowed to walk out of that court room free.

The only justice now, is that George Zimmerman has become an embodiment of the very ideology behind racism. Mr. Zimmerman will get strange looks from people in public. He may not be welcomed to visit certain establishments. People will shun him, simply because of their perception of who he is, instead of learning about who he is. People will stare at him, possibly call him ungodly names. He won't be hired at places because of who he is. And I for one don't feel sorry for him. 

I don't feel sorry for him because my little brother could be Oscar Grant. My future wife could be Rekia Boyd. My future son could be Trayvon Martin. And that reality scares the hell out of me.