SAY THEIR NAMES BY FORRET ROBERT STEPNOWSKI #BlackLivesMatter #Saytheirnames

SAY THEIR NAMES

BY FORRET ROBERT STEPNOWSKI

Say their names
Not because they are another news statistic
Not because they are yet another young black man who was slain in the streets by mad men
Mad men whose bias and ignorance have “justified” their psychosis and unrealistic fears
Don’t let their deaths be another statistic lost in the headlines
How sad it is that Martin Luther King, who created a “Dream,” is nothing more than another name we need to report
Remind us of their humanity

Say their names
George Floyd
Ahmaud Arbery
Breonna Taylor
Michelle Cusseaux
Gabrielle Nevarez
Sandra Bland

Say their names
Not because their gender identity was different than what society deemed fit
Not because they were identified as another “deviant” whose life ended too short
Too short because “hate” is taught more than prayers and the act of loving thy neighbor
Don’t let their deaths be silenced any longer and remember who started Stonewall… thank you, Martha P. Johnson!
To remind us, that “We the Different” still have a voice

Say their names
Dana Martin
Ashanti Carmen
Claire Legato
Jordan Cofer
Muhlaysia Booker
Bailey Reeves
Nikki Kahnhauser
Tony McDade

Say their names
Not because our tearful cries are being ignored as we constantly sing a chorus of “we shall overcome” constantly… while it falls on deaf ears and muted tongues
Not because our trail of tears resembles blood stained cracks on the floor of the murdered and oppressed
Yes, murdered and oppressed, while the privileged dance a waltz of “innocence” to the tune of “I didn’t know what I was doing”
And society embraces them and asks forgiveness when they, the surviving families, grieve the loss of another child

Say their names
Trayvon Martin
Michael Brown
Alton Sterling
Eric Garner
Laquan McDonald
Monica Diamond
Dustin Parker
Johanna Metzger
And the list continues…

Say their names
Not because we lost another brother and sister, cause of death…death by cop, death by hate
Not because the media is asking us to protest against hate and bigotry
Bigotry that has transpired over centuries because it was “carefully taught” by overly projected stereotypes, mistruths, and white nationalistic propaganda

NO

Say their names because they are new guardian angels who will attempt to watch over all of us in an effort to keep us safe
Safe from history constantly repeating itself, over and over again
Like a never ending rollercoaster that has lost its breaks

Say their names