Hope was 12 when we became a family. She was the same age as Tamir Rice.
The. Same. Age.
She might’ve have physically passed for a teen a few ages older, but she could not be mistaken for a 20 year old.
She experienced some rough things in her young life, but none of Hope’s trials can be mistaken to have been her fault.
In spite of this, I genuinely fear for her safety as a young Black child.
To be Black and young is to be in danger in America. Having a Black president has changed nothing; if anything it has made the vitriolic hatred and the systemic efforts to sustain marginalization more visible, more socially acceptable.
It is exhausting month after month, year after year to hear and see people of color–often young people of color–assaulted and assassinated in the streets of a country I love and call home–in spite of a long history of hatred and genocide–with little more than the acknowledgement that the episodes are “tragic.”
They are more than tragic, but I have no more descriptive words. I’m just sad, exhausted and irrepressibly angry that this is life for me and my beautiful girl.
Meanwhile, “affluenza” boy is on his way home, still breathing and no doubt arguing that privilege made him do it.
I hope that 2016 will be different, but there is little real hope that it will be. The data show there is little reason for me to maintain hope that our sons and daughters will be more safe next year.
No justice, no peace.
See justice, see peace.
AdoptiveBlackMom 
December 29th, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Agreed through and through.
December 29th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
It’s just madness. I’ve lived in Harlem for over 10 years and watch this play out in big and small ways all the time. The fact that every American isn’t all over this shit and demanding change is shameful. 😦
December 29th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
Every new story of another black child being killed I think, THIS will be the one. THIS time, someone will be held accountable. This time the tide will turn. This time, law enforcement will learn that the same old bullshit won’t stand. And every single time, I’m crushed to read “Not Indicted.” I was POSITIVE Tamir would be the one. TWELVE. I cannot even wrap my mind around it. And his beautiful little boy face breaks my heart. I just cannot believe that this cycle continues.
December 29th, 2015 at 8:25 pm
ABM, I wish I had a magic wand to erase all of the racism and to turn back time to save those innocent children!
December 30th, 2015 at 10:55 am
I posted on my FB page when Tamir was killed, when there was no indictment – crickets both times. It makes me angry that people don’t give a damn…and you are right about racism being worse since President Obama took office. I’ve never seen such hatred, disrespect, vulgarity, and downright despicable conduct towards the man who holds the highest office in the USA. All I can do is say I’m sorry.