Chapters Five, Six: Black Lives Matter

“‘We’ve all been through a lot, Bryan, all of us. I know that some have been through more than others. But if we don’t expect more from each other, hope better from one another, and recover from the hurt we experience, we are surely doomed.’” Mrs. Jennings, as quoted speaking to Bryan Stevenson in Just Mercy, p. 126

Black Lives Matter. Three small words that have sparked a debate in this country surrounding the issue of police brutality. For me, these are three small words that I feel that I have been screaming for so long and I have become so tired. I can’t bear to watch another video of a black man being fatally shot and I am horrified that we as a nation have become so desensitized to these shootings that we feel comfortable oversharing images of death.

Me reading this book (and subsequently writing this blog post) comes during a time where I just want to give up. I have been so outspoken in person and on social media about police brutality, and racism in general, and yet, every day, it seems like there’s another shooting. I have tried to walk the walk. I have proudly and indignantly worn my Black Lives Matter shirt. I have joined Colin Kaepernick’s protest and started to kneel in the stands during the national anthem at football games. And yet, it feels like nothing is changing, or will ever change. And I can’t handle it. Especially at a place like the University of Michigan, and even St. Mary’s, where I (being a black and white mixed-race person) look around and see nothing but white people.

My best friend from home, who is black, frequently texts me telling me how hard it is for her to go her classes where she is the only person of color; how hard it is for her to look around and know that those other students aren’t at all affected by these events. And because they can never understand your pain, they definitely don’t understand your anger so you try to keep it down. And people don’t understand that that is so exhausting.

I feel absolutely defeated by racism and by police brutality and honestly, reading this book is nearly too much to handle because I just want to give up. But I can’t. Because there is so much more than needs to be done and needs to be said. Because if I can’t speak out, why would anyone else? Because people here need to be made aware of these issues. And because black lives do in fact matter.

Madison (Maddie) Jones is originally from Lansing, MI, and is a junior studying Communications and American Culture. She is serving at St. Mary’s as the Outreach and Engagement Intern for this school year. With a black father who has worked in the criminal justice system, Just Mercy has struck a nerve with her and she hopes that this book might help to enlighten people and spark a well-needed conversation within the parish.