AND YET AGAIN, we witness another crime against Black Americans at the hands of the police. Less than 3 weeks ago, we saw Black children removed from a vehicle at gunpoint and ordered to the ground. We heard the cries of a 6 years old little girl calling hysterically for her mother into the unsympathetic, unrepentant, and unresponsive ears of the Aurora Colorado police department. And to add insult to injury, this purposeful and reckless intentional targeting was shrouded in minimizing rhetoric and dismissively called a “mistake”. To which I say, “BULLSHIT!!!”

AND YET AGAIN, we endure another in-your-face tragic event with an unarmed Black father being shot repeatedly in his back in the presence of his children. The mother was threatened with being shot as she pleaded to a police officer that her children were in the vehicle as they were approaching with drawn weapons. Not “I will arrest you”, but rather “I will shoot you.” Not heeding to or acknowledging the deadly situation the children were in. Thankfully, the children were physically unharmed but clearly their safety and well-being was not the concern of the police officers. No regard and no remorse.

Why is it that our Black babies and children are saddled with the atrocity of being devalued, dehumanized and unsafe almost before they can even recite the alphabets or learn simple arithmetic? Why are our children bombarded with images that convey sadness, powerlessness, and messaging of their not being good enough? Why have their beautiful complexion shades of brown, copper, tan, and black skin become a holding place of fear as they intuitively cower at the presence of the police and white people who denounce their worth on a daily basis? Why do our children have to consider and know situations where they may end up dead even before they experience the wonders and joys of life? Why are our children subjected to nightmarish cruelty and crimes against their humanity in broad daylight while there is no mistaking that what they have seen is clearly not a nightmare but a wide-awake truth? Why is it that the deliberate victimization of African Americans and people of color and our children and babies is not a phenomenon but a regularly broadcast occurrence across the airwaves of the United States of America on any given day?

Why is it that an unarmed Black man can be paralyzed while walking away, can be murdered while laying helplessly on the ground, gunned down while going out for a jog, and a Black woman can be slain in her bed while she sleeps, yet a white automatic-weapon-brandishing-in-the-middle-of-the-street and in-the-presence-of-police-hatemonger can murder the innocent protesters, and he somehow is not arrested but is free to turn himself in without incident and any harm to his person? And how are we reasonably expected not to be angry and distrustful of police behaviors, intentions, words, and apologies when we know these truths or unadulterated racism to be self evident?

We live in a society that consistently reminds us that they do not honor the lives and well-being of African Americans and People of Color. So unfortunately, we are forced to begin with, “AND YET AGAIN”, again.

What will my action and response be? I am reminded of a ministerial story I heard and I paraphrase. He spoke of the power of the “butterfly effect” and a woman who through her own testimonial experience of deliverance, inspiration and joy began to flap her wings as a means of spreading the spirit of her message. Though it began as an ever so slight and seemingly insignificant stirring, eventually it gained momentum, creating a powerful and palpable movement that resonated in the hearts, minds, spirits, and beings of all who heard and they too began to flap their wings.

So, I am going to flap the wings of my voice, stand courageously, and speak boldly against injustice, crimes and acts of indignity and humanity committed particularly against Black people and especially Black women and girls. I am going to flap my wings past the point of fatigue, speak until I have exercised my vocal chords into soundlessness. And even then, I will not be silent, but I will write until I have exhausted my vocabulary and have lost the capacity for expression. I will proclaim until this “And Yet Again” is no longer a part of your, my, and our reality.