Despite our Differences .

Recent Events (July 4-10)

I am so worked up by the recent events that have taken place this week back to back. 😪

This is literally what I wrote on my Instagram (@Mariah.love)

The man who illustrated this photo [up above] on Facebook, Lance Lucas said, "Welcome to America." That is powerful to me because growing up black I have been taught that being black in this country is already a negative against me. Now in the past I would think, "Why? I thought we all were over that," but it's been apparent that we're not. It is saddening that a man's life has to be taken because of his skin. A man who was licensed to carry a gun on him, had no records, and obeyed orders from the cop is shot & taken anyway - in front of his own daughter and girlfriend. #philandocastile WHY? The cop was automatically threatened due to the color of ones skin. That's scary to me. That's scary because another privilege was abused. That's scary because my brothers or uncle who is 17 especially have to be warned every time they leave the house to be careful, because a cop will say something to you just because you're walking alone, wearing a certain color, or you look a certain way. It is crazy that when I take part in certain groups that are a majority of minorities we will have guest speakers that will speak to us about world events and tell us to try 10x harder, that we have to be stronger just because of our skin, that we have to accept who we are, and that we have to live for what we are. I was literally just told earlier this week that I am a woman of color and that is already a strike in some people's eyes. It's sad that mothers hold their children close to them in fear that they're son or even daughter could be next. They have to grow up and fear a cop - a person that we learned about in school who is supposed to protect and stand with us, or that we have to take certain precautions just because of how we look, and we have to realize that there are still people in this world who don't like us because of our pigment. A boy shot because he was wearing a dark hoodie #trayvonmartin , another man selling CDs outside of a convenience store with permission shot multiple times #altonsterling , another man lynched from a tree in a park #piedmontparkhanging Sadly America, we're making a small u-turn and it's not pretty. Here's to yet another #blacklivesmatter hashtag ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

There are so many issues that take place seconds- minutes apart from one another outside of the cameras and headlines. This issue made me open up my eyes and reflect on who I am and what power I can hold with that. It pushes me to go harder for what I want to be in life (a broadcaster) and I WILL do just that because I have a great support system, people who believe in me, and I am motivated daily, so there should be no reason I don't strive for what I want. YOU SHOULDN'T EITHER. STRIVE FOR WHAT YOU WANT! I send prayers out to the families that are going through it right now and the minds that feel lost like mine ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿