300 Black Crosses

300 Black Crosses.

That is what is on a lawn at the Buffalo State College campus.

They represent 300 unarmed Black Lives that have been ended by unnecessary police brutality and the questionable use of force.

It is meant to start a discussion.

A discussion about social justice and racial marginalization in a country that is quickly becoming minority – majority. Very soon, if not already, minorities – African Americans, Latino(a)s, Asians, and First Nation tribes will outnumber the whites.

The conversation has been likened to a spiraling staircase. The imagery, and hope is, that we are going up – that things are improving. Sad to say, looking at the statistics of minorities murdered by the police and vigilantes plus the numbers of minorities that have been and are being thrown in jail or prison, the path looks to be on a downward spiral. A more optimistic person might see it as a walk around a block.

Hope you are in the right neighborhood so that the cops aren't called.

And pray that they don't have a neighborhood watch program.

300 Black Crosses that are meant to start a dialogue.

President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden had a dialogue about racism – a black college professor and a white police officer had a drink with them on the White House lawn.

It was a big f*cking beer I guess.

Nothing changed.

Thanks to technology, the Internet, and the independent media we are more aware of what is happening.

Awareness isn't change. And, given how minorities of all stripes have been treated in this country, awareness doesn't always bring change. It just means that people know that something is going on.

Real change happened in America when people stopped talking, started planning, and started doing.

People doing brought about the end of the slave trade and slavery.

People doing brought about the integration of the military.

People doing brought about the Civil Rights Movement and the March on Washington.

People doing brought about the resignation of a college president in Missouri.

People doing will achieve more than talking.

This has been called a “pregnant moment.”

Let's hope it doesn't lead to another stillbirth.

#BlackLivesMatter

For real.