#PhilandoCastile
"Evelyn. My heart. Another one."
"Evelyn, don't go on social media."
I woke up to these text messages this morning. I woke up fighting back tears. I cried for you before I even knew you. All I could ask was:
"He's dead?"
#PhilandoCastile was driving his car headed home from getting a birthday haircut, and picking up groceries when he was pulled over by a police officer because of a broken tail light.
#PhilandoCastile reached for his wallet because his ID was requested.
#PhilandoCastile was shot and laid in his car dying in front of his girlfriend and 4 year old daughter.
#PhilandoCastile was murdered at a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota.
I kept my promise to #AltonSterling and did not watch the video of your final moments alive. I didn't know I would have to exercise that oath in less than 24 hours. Your birthday was coming up. You were probably talking about plans, playing "I SPY" with your daughter, or singing along to a song on the radio with your boo. Regardless of what you were doing, you were alive.
Your murderer is a coward.
Your murderer is a coward.
YOUR MURDERER IS A COWARD.
You did all the "right" things. But there was nothing you could do to keep you alive. You were shot before he even knew your name. No gun, just black in America. I am sorry that you have now joined a division of fallen soldiers torn away from this life, simply because you had one.
Thank you for being a father, son, and friend.
Thank you for serving 10 years in the same school district you grew up in.
Thank you for your 32 years of life. In your death we will honor you.
I do not enjoy this. I do not enjoy the feelings of frustration, the trauma, the pain, the anger, the fears, the restriction, or the helplessness that comes with coping with the loss of Black Life in America. I do not want to live in fear of what tomorrow brings. I did not expect to write another eulogy for another Black Life today. I will live in POWER knowing that change is indeed coming.
A revolution is brewing.......
“I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those that do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.” — Malcolm X