a word. Tamara Sanaa Leigh

a word.

I never met Jenny DeLeon, Mel Groves or Davon Davis. But they are three of the countless people who lost their lives in the last year or so to violence that I learned about and got to know through their heartbroken, grieving families.

You absolutely never get used to it. It never leaves you. And it never gets any easier. Three people that should have been here to celebrate birthdays, holidays and every days. From Jenny and her sister I learned that all it takes is 1 special person to see you, accept you and love you unconditionally to get you through. From Mel's brother and friend, I learned to never ever reduce anyone to just a number, statistic or example. That even when those striking numbers make an impact, these are people who are loved, missed and remembered and each deserves a story, not just a number or name on a list. From Davon & his family I learned that violence doesn't just mean a fist or a bullet. That a loss of life is ALWAYS an act of violence.

I carry the faces of the lost with me always. They haunt me. Because it's enough, it's too many and we must keep fighting for them and keep their memories alive.

TamaraSanaaLeigh

Editor-In-Chief