isn't she lovely?

Image credit: Vlado

i was all set to write a post about earning my abc (accredited business communicator), but then the story of 17-year old trayvon martin became a leading story in the news and in my life. i began to ponder, what does all the hard work matter if we can be chased down and killed and no one has to answer for it? i immediately became engrossed.

let me back up.

about two weeks ago i was stopped in irving because i looked suspicious driving the lexus i own and drive daily in dfw. the police officer pulled me over for allegedly not signaling as i changed lanes (i am pretty sure i did, but even if i didn't, no one gives tickets for that in dfw). once stopped he proceeded to question me about where i was going (home), who i was following (no one) and if my name was really melyssa (yes, that is my legal name on my birth certificate and everything). once i showed him my credentials he let me go with a simple, "drive safe!"

then the story of poor trayvon martin. while many are debating whether it's a black story, white story or something different. to me it's personal, and it's a story i know all too well. driving while black. shopping while black. living in a "good" neighborhood while black. walking while black. it's a story we, as a society, shouldn't be telling in 2012. i'm angry and i'm tired. i'm tired of black people being accosted just because someone else thinks we are driving a car we shouldn't; shopping in a store that we couldn't possibly afford or traveling in a neighborhood where we don't belong. we need new stories. we are here - to stay. we are not going back to africa. so, let's just stop with the stereotypes, prejudices and racism and really, let's just all get along, already!

several years ago, when my male cousin was in high school he was stopped with a group of black friends while walking in the neighborhood where my aunt and uncle, at that time had, owned their home for more than five years. this male cousin is the child of two parents who have both earned doctorate degrees. his brother served in the military that protects the freedoms we all should enjoy daily. today, my cousin lives in washington d.c. he works for the federal government and travels all around the world. he has been granted a master's degree and earned a bachelor's degree. he's an upstanding citizen - always has been. he didn't look suspicious in high school. he looked black.

enough is enough. apparently, no matter how many strides a group of people make as a collective, they will still be judged by the worst in the group. but it happens far too often in the black community. tomorrow trayvon's parents are going to wake up without their son. and the next day and the day after that. we must not go gentle into the good night. we must stand up for justice. we must stand up for what is right. we must do it now because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

we have miles to go before we sleep.

join the cause: #justicefortrayvonmartin