Dear Future Me,

You need to know, you are never going to feel that type of pain, that they feel. As you were given the skin color that protects you from a lot of things, as people of color are susceptible to. You will never feel the fear they have, for the color of their skin. You have privilege, somebody believing that your money is fake and ends up calling the cops on you, will more than likely not result in your death. You will never have the experience George Floyd had to go through. You can sleep in your own house, without having the fear of a cop barging in and shooting you, as Breonna Taylor had to experience and ended her life. You are able to walk down the street with a hoodie on and hands in your pockets and that will not be the end of your life. You don’t have to worry about getting shot during a traffic stop. You are able to have your phone in your hand and it not be mistaken for a gun or weapon. Someone who is black is 3x more likely to be murdered by an officer, than a white person.

You have seen violence over the news all your life, and most of the time it is an officer usually using unnecessary force onto someone who is black. You questioned the intentions of the officers as they are the people you call when something bad happens or you’re in danger but the things you see were opposite of what was supposed to be happening. They’re the ones who swore to protect the people inside this country but instead they are the ones inflicting the violence. Once you found the answer to the reason this violence is happening growing up, is because of the fact the police system didn’t start until the slaves were freed and the police were racists. It was meant to keep the white man in power. Now, in my time people are standing up for what’s right. There are movements happening, people openly explain what is happening in this time without any filter. Growing up you were afraid to speak out because your peers didn’t always think fighting for these things were the right thing to do, as they were afraid to lose the privilege they have had all their life.

We’ve begun to start fighting for the things that you believed were right all along and you feel better because it truly is the right thing to do. People are fighting for their rights and to help protect black people, black lives matter. What I want to know is, are there any changes within the system? Have the movements, protests, and almost everyone fighting for each other, has it worked? Are people still continuing to fight for change? Are you still fighting alongside everybody? Are you helping in anyway or did you let what society thinks is normal get to you? Are you listening to the stereotypes being given to you or are you challenging someone when they decide to use stereotypes?

I hope there has been reform or the police system has been abolished and changed into something that isn’t built on a country’s racist beliefs.

Find the policies for your county about the way a police system should be performing the regulations they need to follow. If you see something that should not be happening try to help in some way by either recording or speaking up. You need to continue to fight, check yourself on your privilege. When you hear others using stereotypes, it is up to you to contradict them and have them realize what they are doing is harmful. Engage in a discussion, as to why they think these things are true. If you see yourself slip back into the ways you used to be when you were younger and silent, question why are you doing it? Then get back up and use your voice for good as it has power and the more people by their side the better the change will be.