The recent high-profile cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner have given white people an open window to see into the already known reality of black people all over the world. Racism, racial profiling, and police brutality have been well known by blacks?as just a part of life and something to deal with. Black people?everywhere have?taken to social media to have a voice, and the hashtag #AliveWhileBlack is full of examples of horrible things black men and women have to deal with everyday.?These are just a few examples of the hundreds of horrible things blacks still have to deal with today.
While moving into my apartment, cops detained me for 30mins as they believed that I was loading my car with stolen property #alivewhileblack
— LPT365 (@LPT365) December 5, 2014
I got pulled over and was asked who’s car it was, after I told them it was mine. I was given a ticket for doing 54 in a 55 #alivewhileblack
— Marvin LaRoche? (@LuVMesS) December 6, 2014
Having to tell my 8 year old son he’s not allowed to play with toy guns because he might be shot & killed by the police #AliveWhileBlack
— Swiss Kim (@TheSwissKim) December 5, 2014
My boyfriend & I were handcuffed right in front of my bldg as we exited his car. Accused of stealing his own luxury car. #alivewhileblack
— UUMMM… Sweets (@SundaySweets) December 5, 2014
Assaulted by neighbor,caught on tape. Cops wouldnt arrest guy, threatened to arrest me & said ‘Dont fight back next time’ #AliveWhileBlack
— Terrena Carriman (@Ariana_InParis) December 5, 2014
When you want to travel abroad and the first question you ask yourself is "Do they like black people there?" #alivewhileblack
— Janelle James (@janellejcomic) December 4, 2014
Got raped+robbed. Police took forever to interview me, mentioned that women sometimes lie to hide "gambling, overspending" #AliveWhileBlack
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) December 4, 2014
I was stopped 29 times by cops in E. Europe during my 18 months as a Fulbright Scholar. Police racism is a world issue. #alivewhileblack
— Terrell J. Starr (@Russian_Starr) December 4, 2014
Blindsided while riding bike & knocked unconscious. Woke up to cop questioning me. Blood streaming down face. Cop leaves. #AliveWhileBlack
— Elon James White (@elonjames) December 4, 2014
Stopped b/c child "did not look like he shld be w/me"Asked to prove my light-skinned nephew was not being kidnapped #alivewhileblack
— karla holloway (@ProfHolloway) December 4, 2014
Went to police station to report that a white man had sexually assaulted me. Was lectured about how I could ruin his life. #AliveWhileBlack
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) December 4, 2014
Pulled over w my mom. People think shes white, she was driving. Cops asked for my ID and license "for her protection" #AliveWhileBlack
— A$AP Aspie (@ProfessorBLove) December 4, 2014
Cashier of souvenir store in NYC craned his neck around corners at dad & I while a crackhead stole a shirt at the front #alivewhileblack
— ThatFlowerNamedGirl (@FlowerNamedGirl) December 6, 2014
slammed against a wall, frisked at gunpoint in broad daylight with a BLACK FOLDER the police "thought was a gun" #alivewhileblack
— George Oliver Buntin (@MrFreckles1985) December 6, 2014
After seeing all of this, it’s hard to believe and realize what kind of country we still live in. This shows a whole new side of the world we haven’t had access to, and even if we’ve had, we’ve ignored it to the point that it’s now bursting in all of our faces. These people need the help of the public, and social media has served them well. Protests have been sprouting and blooming all over the country in support of black people, black lives, and just pure justice. Recent news has been chuck full of police brutality, racism, and just awful things that need to be addressed and changed. This leaves us with two huge questions: Why is this still happening, and why are we letting it?
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edited by hl