many things

the george zimmerman verdict has left me with many things. i feel how deeply the aftermath of the rodney king riots make it impossible for anyone in los angeles to not see the inflection of race in police action, and wonder greatly at the portions of the country who don't have their rodney kings, and can somehow blind themselves to systemic racism.

i think about how the police used to tail my car when i worked at a center for teens in run down, east lost los angeles. i think about how i saw two cop cars the other day within blocks of each other as i drove to my gig teaching teens in run down, south los angeles. i think about the fact that the teens i teach have to walk 40 minutes in a dilapidated wasteland in order to come to class and go home, and how important it is that we accomplish all of our activities before night sets in.

i think about people who selectively apply their arguments for justice, only in cases when black bodies are expendable. those are the same people claiming the abortion bans in texas are for the benefit of 'women's health'.

i think about the marine who had a crush on me junior year, and followed me regularly in the dining halls and to my dorm room. despite his best intentions, his actions always filled me with a sense of unease, because he felt like he knew how to kill people.

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some manna for the soul today, because i think we are all spiritually in need.

“So build yourself as beautiful as you want your world to be. Wrap yourself in light then give yourself away with your heart, your brush, your march, your art, your poetry, your play. And for every day you paint the war, take a week and paint the beauty, the color, the shape of the landscape you’re marching towards. Everyone knows what you’re against; show them what you’re for."

—Andrea Gibson, Evolution