I have seen a lot of my friends release statements about everything that is going on right now. I have no words. I don’t even know where to start. There have been so many thoughts in my head that I can’t even capture one long enough to process it.

I am angry and frustrated.

There’s so much I thought I would get done this year but the emotional toll of pandemic and protest have derailed it all. My heart hurts for my people and I feel helpless. Yet work is still here.

How are we supposed to be productive? We had to push our limits to find productivity in the midst of a pandemic. I gave every ounce of energy I had to finish the semester thinking that I could take a break and then dive into the summer. But now I find myself in deeper distress.

I cry out for the lives lost.

I cry out for the lack of humanity.

I cry out because of the lack of leadership.

I cry out for our country.

But I know I can’t give up because my people have always fought…always found a way to not just survive but to thrive in the face of adversity. These reminders give me strength to not just keep working, but also to keep playing my role in the larger “fight for our lives.”

Here’s one way that you can participate. Consider donating to The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. — https://www.naacpldf.org/

Stassi