As I sit back and reflect upon everything going on in America, I can’t seem to shake this feeling of deep sadness for the conditions that people of African descent are experiencing here in the states and around the world. As a mother it pains me that my children are coming of age in a time where I thought things would be different than when my parents were coming-of age in the 1960’s. As much as we think things have changed- they really have stayed the same. We are in the 21st century and the amount of hatred shown towards black people seems to be at an all time high. It makes you wonder….is being black a crime?

I never would want to be anything other than what God made me to be. I love being who I am and I wouldn’t change it for the world. However, there is not a day that goes by that I am not reminded that I am a Black woman. There is never a day that the thought of my skin color isn’t somehow brought from my sub-conscious mind to my awareness either by something I see on TV with politicians defending inexcusable acts of racial terrorism, someone on social media sprouting off racially insensitive content, or some unarmed Black teenage boy or girl being shot and killed over nothing and nothing being done about it. I am tired and I am weary. People think because you’re in a certain socio-economic class that these things don’t happen and it simply isn’t true. I have countless stories of racial injustices being perpetrated against me, my father, my husband, and my son. These microaggressions over time have a way of seeping into one’s subconscious mind and doing damage if they are not constantly being fed a different and positive narrative about who they are in the world.

The day my son was brought home as a 12 year old boy in the back of a cop car by two police officers for playing in our neighborhood park with air soft guns- while his white friend, the owner of these guns -was allowed to walk home on his own- has left an indelible mark on our hearts, minds, and spirits. Although, I don’t condone them shooting at birds in the park with air soft guns, the treatment that my son received over his white counterpart is a clear indication that many would deem my son a criminal and this was based solely on his appearance. He was convicted simply because of his skin color. Later that day, his friend and father came to our house in tears, as they witnessed for the first time what we as Black people have to warn our children about from a very young age. It doesn’t matter how wealthy you are, how you are a 4.0 student with a heart of gold- the world will see you differently and thus you must move differently in the world.

Imagine the toll that having to “move differently” in the world has on your spirit and soul. Sometimes I feel the toll is too great a burden to bear. Just like the song by Same Cooke, one of the all time greats, he says in the song A Change Is Gonna Come, “…there’s been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long, but now I think I’m able to carry on.” I think about those who have come before me and had to fight an even uglier enemy than what I deal with now. I think about my parents who moved up North in the late 60’s and were denied access to housing simply because of the color of their skin. Or how my father fought in the movement in the South to boycott segregation of all sorts. It’s frightening to think how all that strife wasn’t in the distant past and how sadly it is still deeply ingrained in our present.

There is no easy answer to the question of whether or not having black skin is a crime. The answer should be an easy no. If you have any belief in God, you would already know that God created all men equal. However, the Declaration of Independence also stated that all men are created equal while these same men owned slaves. The fact of the matter is that a large part of the world seems to perceive that being of African descent and having a darker hue to your skin is a crime. Until institutional racism and this virus of prejudice and hatred in the minds of those who create these unjust laws and ways of oppression are removed, eradicated, and/or healed- people of color will have to work to overcome this disease. Sam Cooke also said in the song, “It’s been too hard living’ but I’m afraid to die….’cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky.” I’m not afraid to die, but I can definitely tell you that it’s getting mighty hard living in this cruel world. But, no matter how much people hate me I will always know that Black is beautiful, not only in the month of February, but all 365 days of the year. Black History is American History. It should be incorporated all year long. George Orwell stated that, “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” Perhaps, deep down the ones that choose to hate know that it’s not because of the color of our skin, but instead it’s that they know the greatness of our history and wish to suppress that. In the meantime, I hope and pray that a change is gonna come- sooner than later.

Speaking Frankly,

Janay Frank