You Cannot Outrun a Bullet

The reason why Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy is still so potent and powerful is because the problems he was standing up for are still relevant today. It was July 29th when social media erupted about yet another black person who was killed by a police officer on duty. The times are very different from when Mike Brown was killed around this same time last year. This cop was wearing one of those fancy body cams that Obama petitioned for. And naturally, this officer knew he was wearing a body cam. So why did he shoot him? He knew once this happened that we would do what we’re doing, watching the footage and protesting via social media. It’s to the point now where you don’t even want to post about another black person being killed because nothing happened the last time you did. 

Sam ran for his life. As stated by an eloquent mind on Twitter, “Being black in America is a radical act.” Why did he shoot him? It's my conclusion that based upon the countless other black lives that didn’t matter, he probably figured he receive a slap on the wrist if that, as so many of his brothers in blue have for taking the same action. That officer was indicted for murder, but will he get out in two years like the officer who shot Oscar Grant, who was unarmed and sitting down? 

My faith in the justice system has been shot straight to hell. I have grown to expect more heartless cops to kill more and more blacks, because they can get away with it. The thought takes me back to Dr. King. When I look around for our leaders, for our voice, for our force, I think of Dr. King. He would have wanted us to fight with marches and protests. We’ve done all that. He would have wanted us to be peaceful. We have done that as well. I think about the NAACP and recall that even the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was being led (in some parts) by a white woman and we didn’t even know. Because “being black” is in right now, unless you are actually black, when it comes to our attractive features, musical ways of expression, swag, and body types, we can't lose. I’m very interested in seeing how people would react to terrorism against white girls with small waists, full lips, big asses, and black boyfriends.

You can’t outrun a bullet. Maybe that’s why my mama wants me to get a gun. Maybe that’s why Dr. King wanted protests to be peaceful, because you cannot outrun a bullet. Sam tried. Mike tried. Maybe that’s why the NWA was so furious. Because at the end of the day, the officer walks away. It’s our blood sinking into the cement. It’s our mothers identifying bodies. My grandmother always said it’s better to be judged by twelve than carried by six. When Zimmerman sat in the court of law and committed perjury after murder and Rachel’s story waivered, all we wanted to hear was what Trayvon had to say. We will never get to hear Trayvon’s side of the story because long before Zimmerman was judged by twelve, Trayvon was carried by six. 

“Don’t shoot,” “I can’t breathe” and “I didn’t even do nothing.” We didn’t even get Sandra’s last words. I don’t even know what these words will mean or why I’m writing them or who will read it. Just know if I die in a jail cell because of speaking/writing what’s on my mind, I did not commit suicide. And yes, we are still waiting for her side mugshot. Everybody gets one. Even Dr. King when they got the chance to lock him up. 

I live in Atlanta and I think of him often. I think of why every black city in America probably has a street and/or school named after him. I wonder what he would be organizing right now and why there is no one in popularity or power to carry his torch. Why are celebrities so calm? Are they afraid of what they might lose? Are they unaffected because they are recognizable and a police won’t mistake them for a regular black person? Where are our leaders who have nothing to do but evoke change? Where are the people who are fed up?

Where is Dr. King? We need him. We can vote. We get paid to work. We can sit down and eat in restaurants. We ride in the front of city buses. We can pee inside the house. We can hire white maids. We can marry white people. Hell, we can marry same-sex people, but we are still BLACK. Jews can hide the fact that they’re Jewish. Gays can hide the fact that they are gay. We can never escape being black. And I personally, do not wish to. I just want to be able to live in spite of it.

Written by Tiffany Black