Simone Chippy
What do you see when you look at me? A teenage girl? A black teenage girl? I guess your answer could be yes to both of those. There’s nothing wrong with the answer you thought, I would have thought the same too, at first glance. It’s not what everyone else would’ve seen… at least what they’d choose to see.
Now I’ve got another question I’d like you to answer. Do I scare you? Does my skin color affect you or do you see my melanin as a threat? If so, why am I the problem? Why do I have to change the way I look? Why do you feel the need to make me feel bad about myself, why do I need to change because of a “threat” you claim I am, and everyone else that looks like me? If you have an answer that justifies my questions… you’re the threat. To me and society. Especially those who have the power to take childhood away. Specifically, mine.
I want what you have. I don’t want to fear for my life. I don’t want to know that in the future I’ll have to worry about my brothers and sister getting pulled over by the police. Wondering if their life is going to be taken away from them in an instant. If one word, one movement, and if one raise in their voice will get them killed. I don’t want to hear about another shooting where the police thought a black person like myself was a threat, and then he just gets put on temporary leave. It’s like the next day nothing ever happened. What happened to their family? Their friends? Their lives? Any dreams that they wanted to achieve someday? I know what happened… they’re gone. Because a white policeman assumed they were a “threat,” because they were, and I quote, “in fear of their safety.” Well I’m in fear of my safety. Everyday.
