Many of you have seen the news the past few days and you are aware of more Black men being killed by police across the U.S. As a Black man and psychologist, this continued disregard for human life is very disheartening and traumatic. The recent incident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is even more disturbing because it is my hometown and that could have easily been my life taken. Below is a poem I wrote to help myself with self-care and to hopefully give people food for thought. We need real action and systemic change.
Title: Human Race I can’t think I can’t walk I can’t talk I can’t breath I can’t move I’m mobilized by the shit I see in the news They say there is only the human race Yet my black brothers and sister keep getting shot Bodies being displayed in the streets Bodies being disgraced by cops The list of names keep growing by the day Trayvon Martin Sandra Bland Mike Brown Alton Sterling So many names to proclaim but the point is we seem to forget that were all one human race I woke up this morning with a pain in my heart Reflecting on all the lives that are lost All lives matter Maybe I’m a skeptic Cuz I'm in disbelief that the system we have is meant to protect the many people who are devalued the second a police is in their presence I can’t think I can’t walk I can’t talk I can’t breath I can’t move I’m immobilized by the racial trauma that historically is infused in a race that was taken from their homeland and enlaved in a system to be continually abused What is the fear that you have of Blacks in America? I thought this was a free country where all people are created equal Yet I sit and I watch over and over again How black lives don't matter yet there is uproar over an animal I’m traumatized by what I see on tv and on my twitter feed I’m tired of people misjudging me and I have not 1 but 3 degrees Yet that hasn't shielded me from “driving while Black” I’ve been pulled over by the cops Thanks God I wasn’t attacked We must fight as a nation to change the hypocrisy that is set up to advance a race Don't lose faith just remember the civil rights movement didn't happen in one day Copyright 2016 Erlanger Turner, Ph.D. Follow Dr. Turner on twitter @DrEarlTurner
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AuthorDr. Turner is a licensed psychologist with expertise in behavioral pediatrics, child mental health, disruptive behavior disorders, and minority mental health. He is also certified as a National Register Health Service Psychologist. Archives
May 2017
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