As the names of the unarmed casualties of police shootings continue to appear on our computer screens, many wonder how to speak in the face of the daily misrepresentation of systemic oppression. Some of the best responses in the days following the protests of Freddie Gray’s death were Ta-Nehisi Coates’s pieces for the Atlantic, but in those first hours of the night on April 28th, as protestors gathered to assert that black lives mattered, there seemed to be no measured voices in the media. How then, we may ask, do we begin to speak?
Without realizing it was the day of Gray’s funeral, I was in Montana reading Toni Morrison’s Home which I had started the day before. During a break before the next shift at work, I decided to sit down and finish it. I didn’t know that as I was reading media attention in Baltimore was shifting from Gray’s funeral to images of perceived looting, many of which were later disproved by those in the photographs. I didn’t know reporters were starting to ask about the cost of property damage when they hadn’t yet asked about the cost of lives.
Month: July 2015
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a 90’s kid? don’t you mean sad adult?
70,000 people have reblogged this but no one is trying to defend themselves
There is nothing to defend
#i read a post once that described 90s kids as the generation of nostalgia #because so much technological advancement happened in such a rapid timeframe when we were growing up #that we can clearly remember having technologies that are now obsolete #like going from a corded hugeass phone to a small computer in your pocket just within our formative years is a major thing #and it sparks a nostalgia for our seemly ‘simpler’ childhoods #because so much rapid development makes it seem like it was a lot longer ago than it actually was (x)
This is the most solid explanation of our decade I have ever heard.
Oh my god
Just to add onto that, our childhood wasn’t even technology based. We grew up knowing of chalk, skateboards, jump rope, street hockey, playgrounds, butterfly collecting, etc. Slowly technology took over our lives and now there are hardly kids playing outside in the summer. We can clearly remember our childhood as it was and now we can see the clear line between it. We were the generation right smack in the middle of it all. Our parents were of non-tech and our children/young siblings will be all tech.
Not to mention, ours was the last generation that grew up with all those bright promises of “work hard, go to college, and you’ll have a successful life,” only to find those hopes abruptly dashed when the housing bubble burst. Milliennials have grown up expecting that disappointment, because for them, the problem has been there since Day One.
So 90s kids aren’t just nostalgic…we’re BITTER. And we ache for those days when we could still think that the world was boundless and full of the opportunities we were promised since the first day of kindergarten.
Every time someone adds to this i have to reblog.
oh that’s why i’m so sad all the time.
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I started this as an experiment. I wanted to see how long this text post would be with all these headlines. I was overwhelmed with what I saw. I had to stop because I was crying so hard I was shaking. I can’t believe these are the people sworn to protect us. I’m so frightened. Most, if not all, of these happened within the past year and these are only the ones caught on tape.
state of emergency
insanity.
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The Biosphere 2 project was created as a research tool for scientists to study Earth’s living systems, and it allowed scientists to play with farming and innovation in a way that didn’t harm the planet. One of the most profound discoveries made by the scientists had nothing to do with a cure for some new disease or a new way of farming land. Rather, the discovery had to do with the wind’s role in a tree’s life. The trees inside Biosphere 2 grew rapidly, more rapidly than they did outside of the dome, but they also fell over before reaching maturation.
After looking at the root systems and outer layers of bark, the scientists came to realize that a lack of wind in Biosphere 2 caused a deficiency of stress wood. Stress wood helps a tree position itself for optimal sun absorption and it also helps trees grow more solidly. Without stress wood, a tree can grow quickly, but it cannot support itself fully. It cannot withstand normal wear and tear, and survive. In other words, the trees needed some stress in order to thrive in the long run.
Follow Ultrafacts for more facts!
what a great metaphor for the experience of life.
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Transcript of Sandra Bland arrest video [8:40-15:25]
FULL VIDEO (new link)
Cop:
Ok, Ma’am. You ok?SB:
I’m waitin’ on you. This is your job. I’m waitin’ on you…Cop:
You seem very irritated.SB:
I am. I really am because I feel like what I’m getting a ticket for, I was
getting out of your way. You were speeding up, tailing me, so I move over, and
you stop me. So, yeah, I am a little irritated, but that doesn’t stop you from
giving me a ticket.Cop:
Are you done?SB:
You asked me what was wrong and I told you. So now I’m done, yeah.Cop:
Ok. You mind putting out your cigarette, please?SB:
I’m in my car. Why do I have to put out my cigarette?Cop:
Well you can step on out now.SB:
I don’t have to step out of my car.Cop:
Step out of the car. [Cop opens the car door] Step out.SB:
No, you don’t have the right-Cop:
Step out of the car!SB:
You do not have the right to do that.Cop:
I do have the right. Now, step out or I will remove you.SB:
I refuse to talk to you other than to identify myself-Cop:
Step out or I will remove you.SB:
I am getting removed for a failure to-Cop:
Step out or I will remove you. I’m giving you a lawful order. Get out of the
car now or I’m gonna remove you.SB:
I’m calling my-Cop:[Cop
reaches into the car] I’m gonna yank you out of here.SB:
Okay, you gonna yank me out of my car?Cop:
Get out.SB:
Ok. Alright. Let’s do this. Don’t touch me.Cop:
Get out of the car!SB:
Don’t touch me! I’m not under arrest. You don’t have the right to-Cop:
You ARE under arrest.SB:
I’m under arrest for what? For what? For what?Cop:
Get out of the car. Get out of the car! Now!SB:
Why am I being apprehended? Because you’re trying to give me a ticket for a
failure-Cop:
I said get out of the car.SB:
Why am I being apprehended? You opened
my car door-Cop:
I am gonna drag you outta here.SB:
So you’re threatening to drag me out of my own car?Cop:
Get out of the car!!SB:
And then you-Cop:
[Cop points his taser at her.] I will light you up!!SB:
Wow.Cop:
NOW!!SB:
Wow. [Sandra steps out of the car.]Cop:
Get out of the car!SB:
For a failure to signal, you’re doing all this. You’re doing all this for a
failure to signal.Cop:
Get over there. [Cop points her over to the sidewalk, while pointing his taser
at her.]SB:
Right. Yeah. Let’s take this to court. [Sandra continues to walk toward the
sidewalk.] Let’s do this for a failure to signal. Yep, for a failure to signal.
[Sandra is led out of the view of the dashcam video.]Cop:
Get off the phone.SB:
I’m not on the phone. I have a right to record-Cop:
Put your phone down.SB:
This is my property.Cop:
Put your phone down.SB:
Sir?Cop:
Put your phone down. Right now! Put your phone down.SB:
[Sandra puts her phone down on the trunk of her car.] For a fucking failure to
signal, my goodness.Cop:
Come over here!SB:
Y’all are interesting. You feelin’ good about this whole thing?Cop:
Stand right here.SB:
You feelin’ good about yourself? For my failure to signal, you feel real good
about yourself, don’t you?Cop:
Turn around.SB:
You feel good about yourself, don’t you?Cop:
Turn around. Turn around now. Put your hands-SB:
Why am I being arrested?Cop:
I’m giving you a lawful order. I will tell you-SB:
Why am I being arrested? Why can’t you tell me that part?Cop:
I’m giving you a lawful order. Turn around.SB:
Why will you not tell me what’s going on?Cop:
You are not compliant.SB:
I’m not compliant ‘cause you just pulled me outta my car.Cop:
Turn around!!SB:
Are you fucking kidding me? This is some bullshit.Cop:
Put your hands behind your back.SB:
Cause you know this is straight bullshit, and you full a shit. Full a straight
shit. That’s why y’all are some scary fucking cops. South Carolina got all y’all
bitch asses scared. That’s all it is. Fucking scared of a female.Cop:
If you would have just listened-SB:
I was tryin’ sign the fucking ticket. Whatever.Cop:
Stop movin’!SB:
Are you fucking serious?Cop:
Stop movin’.SB:
Oh, I can’t wait till we go to court. OH,
I can’t wait! I cannot WAIT ‘till we go to court! I can’t wait. OH, I can’t
wait. You want me to sit down now?Cop:
No.SB:
Oh, you gonna throw me to the floor? That’ll make you feel better about
yourself?Cop:
Knock it off.SB:
Ah, that’ll make you feel better about yourself? That make you feel real good,
won’t it? Fucking ass. Fucking pussy. For a failure to signal, you doin’ all of
this. In little ass Prairie View, Texas. My god. They must-Cop:
You were getting a warning, and now you’re going to jail.SB:
For what??Cop:
You can come read right- [Cop leads Sandra back over to the trunk of the car.]SB:
I’m getting a warning for what?Cop:
Stay right here.SB:
You just pointed me over there!Cop:
I said stay right here.SB:
Get your fucking mind right. OH, I swear on my life, y’all some pussies. A
pussy ass cop pulls for a fucking signal, you’re takin’ me to jail. What a
pussy. What a pussy. What a- you about to break my fucking wrist.Cop:
Stop movin’!SB:
I’m standin’ still! You keep movin’ me, goddamn it!Cop:
Stay right there.SB:
Don’t touch me. Fucking pussy, for a traffic ticket.Cop:
[Goes around the car and closes the front door. Walks back off screen to where
Sandra is on the sidewalk.] Come read right over here. [He stands by the trunk
of the car and shows her the written warning.] This right here says a warning.
YOU started creating a problem. [Cop walks out of shot, toward Sandra.]SB:
You asked me what was wrong!Cop:
Do you have anything in your purse that’s illegal?SB:
Do I look like I have anything on me? This a fuckin’ maxi dress!Cop:
I’m removing your glasses.SB:
This a maxi dress.Cop:
Come on over here.SB:
Fucking assholes. For a- you about to break my wrist! Can you STOP!? You are
mother fuckin’ about to break my wrist! [Sandra makes sounds of pain.] STOOOPP!Cop:
[Sounds of struggle.] Stop! Now! Stop it!Cop
2: Stop resisting, ma’am.Cop:
If you would stop then I would tell you!SB:
[In pain.] For a fucking traffic ticket.Cop:
Now stop!SB:
[In pain.] You are such a pussy. You are such a pussy.Cop
2: No, you are.Cop:
You were yankin’ around.SB:
[In pain.] For a traffic signal.Cop:
You were yankin’ around. When you pull away from me, you’re resisting arrest.SB:
This make you feel real good. This make you feel real good, don’t it? A female
for a traffic signal. For a traffic
signal. I know that makes you feel good, officer.Cop
2: I got her. I got her.SB:
I know it make you feel real good. You a real man now. You slam me, knock my
head into the ground, I got epilepsy, you mother fucker.Cop:
Good. Good.SB:
I hope I-Cop
2: You should have thought of that before you start resisting!SB:
Yeah, this is real good. Real good for a female. Yeah. Y’all strong, ooh. Y’all
real strong.Cop:
I want you to wait right here. Wait right here.SB:
I can’t go nowhere with your fucking knee on my back. Duh.Cop:
[To Cop 2] I’m gonna open your door. [To man recording the brutality.] You need
to leave. You need to leave. You need to leave.SB:
[inaudible] For a fucking traffic ticket.Cop:
For a warning. For a warning. You’re going to jail for resisting arrest. Stand
up.SB:
If I could!Cop:
Roll over.SB:
I can’t even fuckin’ feel my arm!Cop:
Tuck your knee in.SB:
I can’t-Cop:
Listen, listen, you’re gonna sit up on your butt.SB:
You just slammed my head into the ground. Do you not even care about that?Cop
2: He’s telling you to getup.SB:
I can’t even hear!Cop
2: Yes you can.Cop:
Sit on your butt.SB:
You slammed my head into the ground.Cop:
Sit up on your butt.SB:
He threw my fucking head to the ground. What the hell?Cop:
Now stand up.SB:
All this for a traffic signal. I swear to god. All of this for a traffic
signal. [To witness.] Thank you for recording! Thank you! For a traffic signal.
Slammed me into the ground and everything.
Everything. I hope y’all feel good.
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Picture taken of scene where Sandra Bland allegedly “hung herself”, moments after the body was “found” was just released. And of course, no one is buying it.
Police are claiming that Sandra took the trash bag out and tied it to the partition on her shower, and then used it to hang herself with.
Problems with this explanation:
- Trash bags/cans are not allowed in jail cells because any lose items are considered a danger to the inmates. If it’s not bolted down to the floor, it’s basically not allowed in a cell
- If the police are right and the picture was “taken right after the body was found with no changes made to the scene” then why did they replace the trash bag?
- The bag she allegedly used was a “black industrial sized” trash bag, which was not only unlike the white one shown above, but it wouldn’t have been strong enough to hold up her body
- The partition she “hung herself” from is shorter than her. Sandra was a little over 6 ft, and the partition was about 5 ft.
- There were no lacerations or bruises on her neck consistent with a hanging.
#StayWoke
I’m sick
We all know what happened. This is fucked. Cold blooded murder!
this is so fucked.
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But this is the “beef” between Nicki and Taylor that people have been talking about.
I guess Nicki has had enough of the shenanigans and snubs that these award shows throw towards black, female artists, and as is typical of white feminism, Taylor Swift came in to stop the girl-on-girl hate!
I’m here for Nicki and every one of the tweets/retweets she’s made this evening
Alright, this is literally what I have been waiting for. A LARGE star to tell these white media outlets and stars about the racism that lives so largely in these comunities. And I’m GLAD it’s Nicki who’s doing it
all hail nicki minaj.
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I keep imagining hypothetical conversations and coming up with the worst possible scenarios and I can’t sleep and I have to wake up in 3 hours and it’s really annoying and why why why why why. I just want to be over it. I just want to fall asleep 🙁
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I don’t know why these old issues still bother me but they’ve been keeping me up these past few nights – as I play hypothetical conversations over and over again in my head – and it has to stop. I’ve been preparing myself – steeling myself against things that haven’t even happened yet, and it’s probably doing more harm than good. It’s really not fair to anyone. This is exhausting and I should know better. I have to learn to let go of the things I don’t understand, to accept things the way they are and to move on without closure. I’m drawing a line in the sand. I’m putting it all out of my head and moving forward. It is what it is, and that’s that.
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!!!!!!!! ATTENTION !!!!!!!!!
Illinois Woman Who Drove To Texas For New Job Found Hanging/Dead In Jail Cell 3 Days Later
Sandra Bland died in police custody this past Monday. Visiting Texas from Chicago to interview for a college job at her alma mater of Prairie View A&M, she was pulled over for a routine traffic violation (failure to use her turn signal). Everything from that point forward screams racism and foul play, including her death in the Waller County jail Monday.
The Waller County Sheriff’s Office told the Chicago Tribune that Bland was arrested on Friday and charged with “assault on a public servant.”
A video capturing the incident shows differently!!
It shows several police officers standing over Bland while she is on the ground, arguing with them about why they’re being so rough.
At one point, she can be heard saying, “You just slammed my head into the ground. Do you not even care about that?” She also thanks the man recording the incident for filming as she is led to a police cruiser.
Her friend, Malcolm Jackson, told ABC 7,
“After he (an officer) pulled her out of the car, forced her and tossed her to the ground, knee to the neck, and arrested her.”
What we see from a bystander video is her telling the officers she is in pain and cannot hear after her head was slammed on the ground by the male arresting officer.
We have now learned that Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith, who made the first public comments about Bland’s in-custody death, was suspended for documented cases of racism when he was chief of police in Hempstead, Texas, in 2007. After serving his suspension, more complaints of racism came in, and Smith was actually fired as chief of police in Hempstead
Family and Friends close to Sandra, including most of twitter, is at an uproar, believing there was no way she committed suicide, and saying that foul play was at work.
“I do suspect foul play,” another friend, Cheryl Nanton, told the news station. “I believe that we are all 100 percent in belief that she did not do harm to herself.”
Source / Source / Source / Video
#StayWoke
been reading about this for a while now and it’s so awful.
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Even
After
All this time
The Sun never says to the Earth,“You owe me.”
Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the whole sky.Hafiz (via larmoyante)
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“‘Nonsense!’ says Bill Shaw. ‘What else are friends for? You would have done the same.’
Spoken without irony, the words stay with him and will not go away. Bill Shaw believes that if he, Bill Shaw, had been hit over the head and set on fire, then he, David Lurie, would have driven to the hospital and sat waiting, without so much as a newspaper to read, to fetch him home. Bill Shaw believes that, because he and David Lurie once had a cup of tea together, David Lurie is his friend, and the two of them have obligations towards each other. Is Bill Shaw wrong or right? Has Bill Shaw, who was born in Hankey, not two hundred kilometres away, and works in a hardware shop, seen so little of the world that he does not know there are men who do not readily make friends, whose attitude toward friendships between men is corroded with scepticism? Modern English friend from Old English freond, from freon, to love. Does the drinking of tea seal a love-bond, in the eyes of Bill Shaw? Yet but for Bill and Bev Shaw, but for old Ettinger, but for bonds of some kind, where would he be now? On the ruined farm with the broken telephone amid the dead dogs.”Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
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this is always going to be my favorite video
okay i’ve seen this pop up so many times and it’s still so cute
(Source: tumblr_lv8c7ztthi1qzsw67-2this is always going to be my favorite video
okay i’ve seen this pop up so many times and it’s still so cute
)
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when all your friends go out and don’t invite you
IM SCREAMING LMAAAAO
i feel this lmfao
(Source: https://vine.co/)
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Damn
WATCH AND REBLOG THIS VIDEO. PLEASE
Yaaaaaassssssss my fucking lorddddd they switched the audio and image!!
The last part!!!
(Source: tumblr_nqbiy6geu31ru2tm0-2Damn
WATCH AND REBLOG THIS VIDEO. PLEASE
Yaaaaaassssssss my fucking lorddddd they switched the audio and image!!
The last part!!!
)