Just. Let. Us. Be. — Lifestyle Therapeutix

I was triggered by the racist murders of Angela Carr, Jerrald Gallion and A.J. Laguerre, Jr. in Jacksonville, Florida.

My mind went back in time.

It was 1969.

I was 10 years old.

My parents had just relocated our family to Huntsville, AL to attend the HBCU Oakwood College because 3 other Christian, PWI schools they’d applied to told them not to come.

George Wallace was governor and there was so much tension in the air because of the Civil Rights movement that was intentionally pushing back against racism and white supremacy and inequality and inequity and terrorism.

We arrived to Huntsville and want to the mall to check things out and get something to eat. I clearly remember my parents choosing a window seat near the door so that if anything happened we could get out quickly to safety.

I was 10.

And, I was already learning that my skin color impacted my choices, my safety, my very existence in this society. I was 10. And, I was already having to quietly repress my feelings and process how to escape danger, when all I wanted to do was eat my Piccadilly meal with my family. I was 10.

From that time forward, I was woke…..my antenna was always up…..testing out circumstances to see if I was safe or if my brown skin was going to be a factor in the negative way I was treated. And, I’ve got stories. Plenty of them. As a young professional, I moved into a community and needed housing. My white colleagues made some connections for me and then my skin color changed everything. The landlord of one possible home raised the rent to a ridiculously high amount because he was being threatened with death about those Black people moving in the neighborhood. Another, told my co-worker that he didn’t know I was Black by how I sounded on the phone, so it was a no go. Mind you, I am a well qualified, educated employee of the UGA Cooperative Extension Service in the state of GA, whose job it was to assist all residents of my county with home economics education. Just as long as they didn’t have to look at me living among them.

I actually hit it off with a white woman at another location for my job. I mean, we connected at the heart. I was sharing something about her with my employees one day and they said, “Okay, just remember she’s still white.” Antenna went up again. They knew her far better than I did and felt it necessary to warn me of possible danger. WHEW!!

When I traveled south in the state, my boss told me to get there before dark, get in my hotel room and don’t come out till daylight. There was a special kind of crazy in those Southern Georgia towns. She didn’t want me to be a statistic.

Do you have any idea what the weight of these experiences have on a person over a lifetime? We know the value of making healthy choices for better health outcomes and that’s something that I both practice and preach. But, I am convinced more and more that the terror and trauma that Black folk live with day in and day out is the confounding factor in our health outcomes.

The research bears this out generally, so I know in the specific case of racist terrorism it also applies. Check out the work of Dr. Joy Degruy . Look at the effect of the allostatic load in Black women. Review the impact of ACE on health outcomes. “A growing body of research suggests that experiencing racism damages a person’s health by triggering the release of stress hormones and a chain of biological events that cause premature aging, thereby increasing the risk of chronic disease.” prb.org We out here just trying to survive. And then because we are brown, you come and kill us…..in our homes, in the streets, in our cars, in the grocery stores, even in church.

Black folk ain’t crazy. This is not our imagination. We’ve been living this nightmare since we hit these shores.

From sea to shining sea, America don’t believe that Black folk are equal. Some Americans don’t even believe we are human. Laws changed during the civil rights movement, but not hearts. Which is exactly why we are seeing a rollback of many of the things put in place to protect us. And there are these crazy justifications for coming after us. The hooded KKK that I saw with my own two eyes in Georgia in broad daylight collecting money has been holding grudges for years and rebranded as MAGA and terror is the whole, entire point.

It’s ironic that the very place that my family found safety, at an HBCU, was where the original attempts at massacring more Black folk that day in Jacksonville was thwarted. HBCU’s are a sacred place where we are valued and affirmed and believed and made to understand that we are capable of being any and everything we want to be and responsible to God for how we use what He’s gifted us with. It is where we lookout for one another. And, thankfully, our posse was on duty that day. Looking out!! Protecting our worth. Keeping us safe.

One of the greatest blessings of an HBCU experience is the tradition of worship. Each year I make the trek back for homecoming to fill up my tank to be able to face the madness of this world. My college is home to the World Champion Aeolians. When they and other HBCU choirs like them start to sing, it’s as if you are being ushered into the presence of God…..above the miasma of this dark world. Listen here for an amazing rendition of Come Thou Fount by the Oakwood University Aeolians. Let it touch your soul.

As I process the terror that I am watching bubble up again in this country, I’m reminded of some folk in the word of God who were terrorized because of who they were. And, when given the choice to honor man or God, they chose the God who showed up for them. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are prime examples of calm under pressure. Through the fire and in the lion’s den, their faith was fixed on the God who began humankind’s story on the beautiful continent of Africa. And, they knew what He could do……but if not, even if He didn’t……they would still trust in Him. Because, this war on us is from the pits of hell. These folk ain’t radicalized. They are taught generation after generation to hate us. And, no matter how you say it or how many days you are at church, this hate is not of God. Just. Let. Us. Be.

What I know for sure……my God never slumbers nor sleeps and I can trust that He will repay. (Romans 12:19)

Thank You Jesus for your promises to your children. It’s mighty dark down here right now. And sometimes it feels like you gone. We so tired!! Give us strength Jesus. Give us strength!!

RIP to all those Black souls who have perished senselessly at the hands of hateful men.

And, God, please help America!!

It’s First Thursday!!

I’m Still Shoutin’ Ova Here