This is for Breonna.

I’m always saying how Black women are mistreated in today’s culture, for centuries back even. Folks have heard me ramble on and on about it for the last three decades plus. And then, Spring of 2020, Breonna is shot and killed in her own apartment in Louisville, Kentucky. Guilty of sleeping while black. Days, weeks and months go by without any action by the state to bring justice for Breonna’s death. Her family received a settlement for millions of dollars but, who cares about money in this time and space. I’m certain the family does not.

Breonna was the first of her family to graduate from high school. The first of her family to attend college. She was a Rockstar. A shining star who won’t have the opportunity to achieve her dreams and goals. Dreams jotted down in her journal at the turn of the year. Breonna won’t live to have children of her own. She cannot tell us exactly what happened on the night she was gunned down by Louisville police. No- Knock warrant in hand. Was she scared? Did she realize what was happening? What was about to happen?

Today, after her death, Breonna is on the cover of several notable magazines. Her face is etched into our minds. People continue to say her name.

Breonna Taylor.

But, more is needed. How do we affect change? How do we ensure that the senseless deaths of black and brown people no longer occur? I heard it stated recently that the criminal justice system isn’t broken. That the criminal justice system is working just as it was intended. As a legal professional who has worked firsthand within the system within the state of Georgia, I must agree. I have seen how the criminal justice system is skewed towards upper and middle class white persons at every turn. A No- Knock warrant would not have been executed in a predominantly white neighborhood. The actions which led to Breonna Taylor’s death are not likely to have occurred for her white counterpart.

Racial injustice must end. For Breonna…

We continue to say her name.

We continue to stand for justice. Make our voices heard.

We write, we shout, we peacefully protest.

We remain accountable to Breonna Taylor and so many others like her. On the local, state and national levels, to make and ensure change…

We vote for officials committed to racial equity and justice.

Judges, District Attorneys, Attorney Generals, especially Presidents, we arm ourselves with knowledge of those willing to fight for Breonna, those before her and sadly, those that will follow.

~ Stacey Mack

Featured photo: royalty free photo by Maria Oswalt

Stacey M. Cameron (Stacey Mack) is an Attorney, Advocate, Author and Activist with a passion towards achieving racial equity and justice in America. Founder of Grateful Badass, LLC a Media Company which promotes living with excellence in gratitude through book publishing, film production and Grateful Badass Podcast where she is host. A true Southerner at heart, she was born and raised in Memphis, TN and currently resides in New York City.