I feel so betrayed by my brothers and sisters who insist that it isn't their responsibility to combat systemic oppression. I ask them to whom does the responsibility belong? What external force do you believe will intervene on our behalf and save the day? I assure you it does not exist and that we are alone. We are all we have.
While I understand that not every one of us is built for every role in the struggle, I am equally confident that we are each built for at least one. There IS a role for everyone in the pursuit of Black liberation. In your decision not to play YOUR role, you are abandoning us.
Your abandonment of us isn't without consequence. On the contrary, it plays a key role in the perpetual enslavement, oppression, and genocide of our people. For your abandonment of us is cooperation with the oppressor.
Your decision to stroll past the bloody bodies of Black victims in the streets, turn a blind eye to the outstretched hands of impoverished Black children with swollen bellies, and ignore the torture that they inflict upon grieving parents and communities HURTS. It HURTS. Because when you say "Fighting social injustice isn't my responsibility," what you're really saying is:
"Fuck. You."
"The lives of other Black people simply don't matter that much to me."
"I value my own life and ability to live without the weight of oppression and under tyrannical rule less than I do my temporary and relatively comfortable position on the plantation."
You're flicking off the ancestors who fought and died for us. You're saying "screw you" to those that have dedicated their lives to securing YOUR freedom. You're spitting on the graves of Trayvon Martin, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Tyre King, Sandra Bland, Korryn Gaines, Rachel Jackson, Eric Garner, Kimani Gray, Emmet Till, Terence Crutcher, Keith Lamont, David Joseph, and all of those who have gone unnamed and unnoticed.
You're confusing "self-care first" with self-care ONLY.
So, for those of you who refuse to be held accountable; for those of you who ignore our call for unity, solidarity, and plain old HELP; for those of you who forsake your OWN people in favor of individualism, my message is simple and clear:
YOU are killing us. By shirking accountability, YOU are equally responsible for Black genocide and Black suffering.
Can you live with that?