Fight For It.

Protestor (Downtown, Cincinnati)

Well! Gemini season came and went with a whole shit show did it not!?!? Also, I think we can all agree at this point that 2020 is a bad bish with a serious chip on her shoulder. And if you’re feeling a bit beat up… Honey.. you are NOT alone! 😭

On a more serious note, I’m sure you’re all aware that we are still very much in the thick of extremely trying times. Coronavirus has not slowed down and racial tensions are running extremely high. I have to say, both the divisiveness and the coming together has been a wonder to behold and I’m here for it all. My prayer is not necessarily for peace but for strength, courage and tangible results. History shows us those do not materialize without civil unrest.

Personally, I can recall a time, I was about 16-17 years old. Leaving from my evening shift at Bob Evans as a waitress, still in my uniform, with my apron full of tips from the night. I was driving what I used to call my “Car/van/truck” (Look up a ‘93 Mitsubishi Eagle Summit. Those who know will remember.. she was the truth!) as I saw blue and red lights begin flashing behind me. I’d been driving since age 14 and had never been pulled over, but I remember my mother always fussing about the police giving her a hard time in her nice vehicle bought with GM money. I was terrified. I drove until I reached a well lit area, not far from my home and pulled over to the side of the road where I called my mom to tell her where I was and that I was being pulled over.

The cop got out of the car, came over to my driver’s side, flashed his flashlight in my face and asked me to step out of the car. I asked what I was being pulled over for and told him that I had my license and registration on me. With his hand on his gun, he insisted adamantly that I step out of the car. Scared and alone, I got out. Instantly he put my hands behind me, cuffed me, pushed me onto my hood where I was forced to spread my legs and allow a frisk. He dug into my apron, felt inside all my pockets then walked me over and put me into the back of his car stating that I was a suspect in a fleeing and looting incident. Someone in my neighborhood had supposedly robbed a pizza delivery guy and I “fit the description.” (In a white button down, black slacks, Bob Evans name tag and an apron full of cash.. driving a strange “Car/van/truck” that is.) I was crying. And twisting myself up to get to my phone and find out what was taking my mom so long when she pulled up. She went off on that officer. And as afraid as I was that night, being harassed and embarrassed with no just cause, I can only shudder at the thought of those who’ve had similar confrontations and didn’t make it home. What if that officer had shot me or my mother for “Mouthing off”. Sadly this is reality for far too many people. I could’ve been Sandra Bland or Philando Castile. Way too easily.

I don’t pretend to be a warrior for justice in my everyday life. But if you are Black in America, this is a story that you can either relate to or you know someone within your closest circle who can. What I am learning in everything is what it means to speak up and fight in the spaces that we do occupy. In our respective lanes. Not everyone will be on the frontlines. Not everyone is only “Twitter Fingers”. Some people are just now learning how to simply impact their loved ones and live a life principled by the fact the Black Lives Matter.

The decisions we make on a daily should reflect that. How we treat ourselves and others. How we spend our time. Are we perpetuating nonsense or learning how to be part of a solution. We should be done begging our oppressors to see validity in our lives. We MUST live that validity on our own. RaJean Beauty is still in its infancy. But I want to be clear that we are adamant about operating in this manner. This is not a phase or a temporary moment. These are real lives. Our real lives on the line. It goes much farther than business for me. I pray the same is true for all of you.

Educate yourselves and those around you. Love on one another. Protect one another. Put differences aside. Now isn’t the time to be against one another. Arguing over methods when the goal should be the same regardless. Let’s build together for the sake of those who will look back at our time with the same questions we have for our ancestors.

With Love.

Protest, Downtown Cincinnati