There's a something little different from me today. With the eyes I have on this page it would not be right for me to ignore the injustice of the Sandra Bland case.
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Content warning - racism, violence.
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Sandra Bland was a beautiful, vibrant, 28 year old black American woman who was pulled over by a police officer in Texas for failing to indicate a lane change. The situation quickly escalated, and it ultimately led to Sandra being pulled out of her car at the threat of being tased - "I will light you up." - violently thrown to the ground, knelt on, and taken into custody. 3 days later she was found dead in her cell, allegedly hanged.
This video is really upsetting, but a necessary watch to frame the hideous overreaction of the arresting officer. One of the most heartbreaking parts of the video is when Sandra is protesting that Trooper Encinia slammed her head into the ground, telling him she has epilepsy. He coldly replied "Good!" What a heartless piece of shit.
You can also check the hashtags #Sandra Bland #SandyBland #JusticeforSandraBland etc on Instagram and Twitter, but there might be some upsetting photos there so I advise caution. Tumblr is also a good source of news as it happens from the States.
No matter what your opinion on Sandra Bland's death, there is no doubt that countless black families are mourning lost family members after a run in with the police. Eric Garner. Freddie Gray. Michael Brown. Tamir Rice. Walter Scott. Learn their names, learn their stories.
Why is it black lives are considered disposable in many countries, but especially America? Why are so many unarmed black people dying at police hands? The more I research suspicious black deaths, the more videos of police brutality I find, and I am sickened. And then I check the white-run media, and instead of seeing the perpetrators of these murderers of black people investigated, I see a trial by media - of the VICTIMS. Not only do they die at white hands, but they're painted as criminals after the fact to suggest they deserved to die at white hands. Fuck my life. This is why it's so important to search out media which carries unbiased news of black issues, or media run by black people.
When I saw Sandra Bland's mug shot photo, and saw the light totally gone out of her eyes, I can't describe the feelings I had. It got me in the gut and I nearly threw up. Perhaps I felt just a millionth of the rage black people face, and have always faced. And it made me SO angry. I can no longer keep quiet.
For the last couple of years I've avoided talking about issues of race because I was scared. Scared of not knowing enough, of putting my foot in it and making things worse. Scared of being confronted with my own racism (many black people say all white people are inherently racist as we live in a society where we benefit from other people's lack of privilege.) How could we not be racist, no matter how well-intentioned we are, when the world is shaped after us, to the detriment of others?! Over the last couple of years I've read a lot of news from black news sources and bloggers, silently soaked up as much information as I could, and I faced my own discomfort. When you start to read media from black sources, prepare to be uncomfortable a lot.
Over the last couple of years I heard the stories of black lives snatched from this earth like wheat from the ground and raged impotently into the ether, not knowing what to do. I still don't know what to do, but I know what NOT to do. Now is not the time to keep silent. Now is the time to yell it from the rooftops.
Now is the time for people like me - who want to help but have no idea how really to be of use - to keep the names of these dead souls on our lips. Say Sandra Bland's name. Share stories about her life and death. As new cases of police brutality emerge, share them widely. Open other peoples' eyes, perhaps open your own. Demand better for black people, no matter where in the world they are.
Things have got to change. The time is now. Sandra Bland's mother requests that everybody keeps her name alive. Will you do your part?
Thanks for reading,
Leah xoxo
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