Breonna Taylor’s Life Mattered and Our Rage is Righteous

On March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor was in her apartment sleeping when police banged on the door, broke the door off its hinges, shooting. Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shot back once at the invaders, hitting one in the thigh. Breonna was shot 5 times by the police. She never made it to the hospital. She died there.

Why were the police there? They were looking for two suspected drug dealers whose homes were nowhere near Breonna’s. They ended up at her apartment because one of the suspects was someone she used to date. (Read: What We Know About Breonna Taylor’s Case and Death – NYTimes)

Let me simplify this story: Breonna Taylor was killed in her home because police thought her ex-boyfriend was a drug dealer, barging into her apartment at midnight unannounced.

Let’s make it even simpler: Breonna Taylor died because the police are the thugs that they’re afraid Black people are.

It has been 6 months since she lost her life, and Breonna’s killers are still walking free and will continue to do so. Officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove committed murder, and will face very little consequence for it.

This week, the Kentucky Attorney General, Daniel Cameron, announced the indictments, and the only charge put forward was for “wanton endangerment” because one of the cops’ bullets entered a neighbor’s apartment. Let me further clarify this: a Black woman was killed and the only thing the lawmaker in charge thought was worth getting justice for was the shots he missed, the wall he pierced and the white neighbors he scared.

We are stuck in the groundhog day of the Stages of What Happens When There’s Injustice Against Black People.

I AM ENRAGED, down to my toes. Because even after the constant heartbreak of America’s boldness in showing us over and over again that Black bodies don’t matter, even I am shocked that WALLS can get more justice than people.

I AM ENRAGED because how much more peaceful can you be than be sleeping, in your own home? It is the ultimate in minding your own business and even in your own bed, you ain’t safe if you’re Black. We know we’re not safe outside, but where is our sanctuary when bullets can meet us in our dreams to cut our lives short?

I AM ENRAGED, because people are killing us with impunity and even our rage is policed. Because even when our rage is justified, we’re being asked to be polite.

If this isn’t a time to be angry, when will it be? There is no time where RAGE is more justified than now. Breonna deserves that, at the minimum. To be anything but saddened or infuriated is to say this woman’s life deserved to be cut short.

In June, the largest civil unrest demonstrations ever went on in the United States, spurred by the deaths of Breonna and George Floyd. Some of these demonstrations turned into property damage, and fires. Some people sat in their homes, tsk tsking.

As we rage for Breonna, people are telling us to be calm. When every single urge to BURN EVERYTHING DOWN is valid.

By Simi Moonlight. Merch available at her store

As Breonna Taylor’s name trended for the past few months and rang from sea to corrupt sea, her killers are walking free. This week, the walls of her neighbor’s home got more justice than her. Black girl, you deserve to be RAGED over. Fires that trail you were ignited by smoke they refused to put out in your honor.

Here is to Breonna Taylor and others like her who have died at the hands of white supremacy.

Call me angry. Every ounce of rage has been earned. EVERY OUNCE.

In the process of being loud with my anger, I’ve received DMs and comments from white women followers talking about “we need to not be divisive and we need to be peaceful.”

If you are more angry about my rage than the injustice, get the fuck off my page.

Do not be fooled by TED talk Luvvie in the cute yellow blazer. Don’t be fooled by Luvvie who got jokes. Don’t be fooled by “Let’s be kind” Luvvie. I will cuss you and your whole ancestry the fuck out without remorse.

Photo by SevernDamn

Some of y’all got me fucked up about 5 ways because you’ve seen me in these white adjacent spaces. I am a Black woman first and your weak ass “let’s be nice” stance is trash and you are part of the problem and you are not welcome here or on any spaces I moderate. This goes for anyone who thinks what I, or any other Black woman, owe you in this moment is niceness. Caucasity is truly at an all time high cuz the privilege and the AUDACITY is running rampant.

I am a Black woman first and your weak ass “let’s be nice” stance is trash and you are part of the problem and you are not welcome here. We are past this. Now we must use our rage to fuel our passion and our purpose. No Black woman should have to fear she will get shot while she is SLEEPING IN HER OWN HOME. No Black woman should fear walking down the sidewalk at night. BLACK WOMEN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FEAR THEIR LIFE.

The fact that all people do is HEAR our rage and not FEEL it is a product of us giving grace.

What I know is that if anything happens to me, I don’t wanna hear “Luvvie would want us to be peaceful.” Nope. I would want rage in my honor. I would want my ancestors to hear the voices of those who wail for my life. I would want no peace for those responsible for cutting breath short.

Justice eludes us. Our rage is what we have. It is righteous.