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Dear America,  

I write this letter from a place of guided infuriation, a heightened state of rage, tiptoeing on the edge of vengeance. First, let me make it undeniably clear I chose The Inclusion Solution as the place to pen this letter based on its audience. My intention is not to be lengthy, not be cute with my words, or attempt to be fancy with catchy phrases. So here it is — America, LEAVE OUR PEOPLE THE HELL ALONE!

As a man — more specifically a Black man — I will not allow for the sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, nieces, nephews, and any member of the collective Black family to suffer at the hands of white America, fall victim to the games of white supremacy, and be taken from us by the sheer hatred of police brutality. There once was a point in time I was filled with a certain level of hope that one day, America would finally turn the corner and begin operating as a collective; as a family of human beings.

Dear America, I will not allow for the collective Black family to suffer at the hands of white america, fall victim to the games of white supremacy, and be taken from us by the sheer hatred of police brutality. Click To Tweet

Call it ignorance, wishful thinking, or a misguided need to see America work differently… (because make no mistake about it; she’s working exactly as designed) …whatever you decide to call it, I can promise you this:

  • I promise to no longer expect you to have compassion.  
  • I promise to no longer assume you will see the value in Black life.  
  • I promise to no longer be surprised when you pass over exceptional Black talent for mediocre white aptitude. 
  • I promise to remember the intentionality of your flaws. 
  • I promise to remember the boisterousness of your bigotry. 
  • I promise to remember how you relish in your racism. 
  • I promise to remember the joy you find in your evil. 
I’ve shifted away from erroneous ideals of an equal crack at 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' Not while you hold on to your stolen grip of power, unearned seat at the table & ridiculously dense belief in your… Click To Tweet

You see, I’ve shifted away from erroneous ideals that there will be an equal crack at “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Not while you feverishly hold on to your stolen grip of power, your unearned seat at the table and your ridiculously dense belief in your superiority. It was so beautiful to see all of you desperate and deplorable as you stormed the capital — watching white supremacy being attacked by the foolish white America that it built. Looking at you scared that your unwarranted free ride is slowly coming to an end. I’m here to add a little horsepower, pushing you closer to that finish line — a finish line full of promises:  

  • I promise to no longer leave justice in the hands of America, understanding as Dr. King once said, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed.” 
I promise to no longer leave justice in the hands of America, understanding as Dr. King said, 'We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed.' Click To Tweet
  • I promise to defend my family, my friends and my community with my life. Channeling my inner Malcolm X and remembering his words, “Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.” 
  • I promise to never fall victim to the old ideals of the past, because the truth will always remain: “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” — Audre Lorde  
I promise to never fall victim to the old ideals of the past, because the truth will always remain: 'The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house.' — Audre Lorde Click To Tweet
  • I promise to use the power of my agency to call out all forms of oppression, operating in the same manner that Jesus (yes, he was Black) once did. Denying, denouncing and dismantling the devilish entities of white America, white supremacy, police brutality and the people that uphold them. 

I wanted you to read this from me, as the saying goes, not as a threat, but as a promise — a promise to make your world the most unpredictable, unruly and uncomfortable experience from this day forward. A promise to honor our fallen family by keeping my Black knee on the neck of any individual, system or entity that threatens or harms my collective Black family.   

Sincerely, 

A Fed-Up Black Man