Janerra Copeland, Burned Out

You tell us not to forget, but that we must get over it. 400 years of oppression and nothing has changed. “A Change is Gonna Come,” says Sam Cooke. Well, where is it? Because it’s all lies. The change has not happened. I’m tired of new hashtags that wither away within the depths of social media.

#JusticeForBreonnaTaylor #JusticeForAhmaudAubrey

Their names flood the trending page. Which quickly turns into page not found. New tears shed on the faces of mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. Praying to keep us safe, even the ones we don’t know. Praying that we never have to hear “You’re gonna kill me” from your brother whose neck is under an officer’s arm. Or “It’s gonna be a closed casket” as an officer stands over your husband’s bloody body.

We are tired! Our souls are tired. Our eyes have no tears left to cry.

Body after body. Yet, we are still complaining about equality. The Land of Free is occupied. Nowhere to go, nowhere to live.