The Price of Freedom: An Essay
Home. One small word that elicits emotion and meaning. Home is where the heart is. It’s a place of safety for most. Home isn’t something to take for granted. I’m a Black man living in America, shit, I can’t take anything for granted. One false move and I could end up dead. It’s fucked up, but it’s reality. I’m used to being careful. I’m accustomed to the ills of a failing empire that’s clinging to white supremacy and hatred with its putrid hands.
I stood in the doorway, watching the garage door as it came to a thundering close. Moist brisket, pulled pork, and tender ribs, along with all the fixings, made leaving the house worth it. My baby girl’s footsteps against the tile could be heard in the distance as I entered the kitchen with a large brown bag of hot food. “Daddy, daddy,” she called out as she heard my steps. I smiled at the scene that played out before me. The sound of laughter and plates being prepared with love warmed my heart. It’s in those simple moments that you realize how beautiful life can be.
How do you keep your family safe when ICE is roaming our streets looking for trouble under the guise of immigration? How do you navigate a deranged society that sees your existence as an impediment to the creation of their illogical utopian society? Freedom comes with a price. We cannot afford to cower in fear as their grand displays of injustice grow with each passing day. Remaining silent is not an option as they attempt to roll back everything our ancestors fought for.
The American government is at war with its own people. White people think this is new. It’s not. They’ve largely been immune to the side effects of white supremacy. The unwarranted killings of Keith Porter, Renee Nicole Good, and Alex Pretti are eerie reminders of a nation that devours its own with impunity. Even white people aren’t safe from white supremacy. Interestingly enough, Keith Porter has been left out of many conversations about the state of the union. Go figure.
In a post-truth society, challenging the errors of white supremacy is met with anger and disdain. This administration has tried to silence many. I often chuckle when I hear people say, “Voting has consequences.” Although the sentiment is true, we’re in the midst of an ideological war that has been raging on since the Reconstruction Era. To put it bluntly, a large segment of the voter population is not equipped to handle the weight of the responsibility. I think America is full of severely uneducated people who choose to be ignorant because they have relied on the perceived benefits of whiteness.
There’s a heavy price to pay for liberation. We’re not looking for acceptance. We’re not looking for handouts. Black people want to live their lives in peace. We want what is justly ours. We want to experience the joys of life without persecution. We must continue to stand firm in the middle of the fire, unmovable and unshaken. We are the embodiment of resiliency. Our voices matter. Our lives matter too.