I’ve never lost a family member or friend to tragedy. I’ve never received a phone call or a late night/early morning knock on the door notifying me of death. Yet as I watch the news and see the social media posts, my heart breaks. I am sadden by the increase of unarmed black men and women being killed by the hands of those who have sworn to serve and protect. I am dishearten by our police departments. I am sickened at the thought that yesterday it was somebody else brother and today it could be mine. What happened to the days when you got pulled over by police and left the scene alive? Where are those police officers who aren’t afraid of the neighborhood they’re in? Yes, people have said it’s not a black and white issue but I’m not so sure anymore. Because I’ve seen the news reports of supposed terrorists being taken alive but a black man with his arms in the air being shot dead. I’ve read the reports of white men, with guns, making it safely to the police station but an unarmed black woman never making it out. You have to know that I am not turning this devotional blog into a rant and raving post but I just know that God isn’t pleased with the state of this world. As I read my bible, I’m reminded of the things the Israelites did to cause God’s heart to be hardened towards them and I’m just wondering if this doesn’t.
See, I used to be fearful for the black men in my family but now I’m afraid to be pulled over because if I happen to move suddenly, there’s a chance I can get killed. Don’t you see that we are living in a world, now, where police bullets have no respect of person? There was a time when an officer killed a man or woman and it was justified by their crime but now it’s indicative of skin color or if you look suspicious. Why? What happened? When did this become acceptable? And what can we do to fix it? Oh, we can pray but what will we do when we get up? We can march but then what? We can riot but that’ll only leave a ruined city. WHAT. MUST. WE. DO? What can we do as a city, a state and a nation? What must we do to ensure this new normal is demolished? What can we do as blacks and whites to save a dying world? I could plug 2 Chronicles 7:14 here but instead I’ll share Isaiah 58:1 that says, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” It’s time we cry loud and spare not the feelings of those who do nothing. It’s time we cry loud and spare not the looks and the stares. It’s time we cry loud and spare not because we are losing! Don’t wait until trouble attacks your house to cry loud and spare not because while it may not be there today, it could be me or you who becomes a hashtag tomorrow. It’s time to cry loud!
Lakisha, the Author 