This past weekend I had the pleasure of being able to participate in the Black Lives Matter movement in Memphis, Tennessee. Although Memphis is number six on the list of the top 100 most dangerous cities in the U.S., we were able to pull off a peaceful protest on July 10, 2016. We started on Beale Street by the Fedex Forum and marched from there to the I-40 bridge that connects to West Memphis, Arkansas. Once we reached the bridge, supporters stood in both lanes stopping traffic on both sides. The police did not want us holding up traffic and threatened to remove us. But we held our ground and stood and protested on the bridge for hours. People brought posters and signs that illustrated our pride for the black community. We yelled chants and sang relevant songs. July 10, 2016 was a proud day to be a 'Memphian'. My chest swelled with pride to be out there with my fellow brothers and sisters all marching to make a difference.

So many things have been happening to the black community and now is the time for all of us to ban together. Now is the time, for my generation especially, to come together and leave our mark in a country that does not welcome our race. The fact that there are so many of us still working against each other hurts. There were so many black males and females slandering our march and those of us out there marching. My favorite line that I have received from numerous people so far, "You don't even know what you are out there marching for."

Well, since we do not know, can you educate us? I thought that I was out there marching for every black who has been oppressed, shot, beaten, and killed brutally. I thought I was marching for all my Sandra Blands that were murdered not only for the color of their skin but also because of their strong mind and awareness of who they are as independent black women/men. What about my Trayvon Martins who never received justice because their killers' race determined they were not guilty even when all the evidence proved otherwise. I guess us wanting to march for Rodney King, Frank Jude, Timothy Thomas, Kathryn Johnston, and more is wrong. We were able to actually pull off a peaceful protest to let the country know that we are aware of what is happening and we want change.

Of course protesting is not the only thing that will solve the current issues, but sometimes you must come together as a crowd to send out a message and then continue individually to make a difference. If we keep being our own enemies a change will never come. We live in a country that does not favor our skin color, but does favor all of our money and labor. As long as they can continue to get us to stay in poverty, arguing with each other, killing each other, and relying on the government for our ways of living, this country will always win. Now I am not saying everyone has to step out of their homes and march and protest if they do not want to, but for those that do, show some support. If you do not agree, leave the negativity in your own head and let it devour your happiness. Memphis is in the TOP TEN most dangerous cities, yet we pulled together a protest that blocked off a very important bridge for hours without someone getting shot, stabbed, beaten, killed, etc. People of all races came out to support and march with us.

Is it not enough that we get judged based on the color of our skin everyday? Or the texture of our hair? The pronunciations of our names? Now our own race is going to judge us for feeling passionate about something we are tired of seeing. I could see if there was violence that erupted from our march, but there was not. Which is rare in our city. Very rare. Most people who talked down about the march will not even take the time to see the results of the march and if it even made a change. The marchers are more awake than people think. We need to work towards building awareness, our communities, and ourselves individually. There is not enough success within black communities, but more will not come if we are constantly tearing each other down.

No justice, no peace.