Daily Walk

Today I took my walk.

It was my regular, mid-afternoon quarantine walk

Where my goal is to get 8,000 steps in a day as opposed to

my pre-quarantine 12,000 steps).

Where I aimed to get some vitamin D

and clear my mind.

But today was different.

Today, my goal was to shake off the fear

of leaving my house.

Where I worked to quell the unease of police cars driving through my neighborhood

Where I forced myself not to worry about what the passing strangers–

my neighbors even–

Truly think about me.

Today, during my walk, I thought about those with

Skin like mine

Who can’t walk, job, sleep, work, drive, be at home, have a cell phone, get home from a party, go to the store, play cops and robbers, go to church, celebrate their marriage, get a traffic ticket, read a book, look at birds, spend time with family, breath, or live.

Those with skin like mine who cannot do the things that

other lawful (white) citizens

Get to do fearlessly.

Today, I carried the

Rage

Fear

Sadness

Emptiness

Fatigue

and

Trauma

That is inflicted on those with

Skin like mine

My brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, moms, dads, husbands, wives, students, friends, colleagues

Using chains, ropes, bullets, cells, false accusation

And hatred.

And I wonder-

How much more can a people take

Before they fight back?