#blacklivesmatter

I've spent the past week trying to really put in words what has occurred on UVA's campus. On March 18, 2015,  Martese Johnson suffered wounds after he was brutally attacked by the ABC law enforcement.  Many of my former classmates, current students and organization's like UVa's Black Student Alliance rallied behind Martese and demanded investigation of this attack. 

I've watched social media posts express outrage, but I've seen many ignore this tragedy and many say "maybe this isn't just a race thing". I've read posts from the social media outlet Yik-Yak and I have been deeply disgusted that people walk around with such deep-seated hatred for people of color. I've watched my little sister, her peers, and friends that are still at UVa feel so alienated. I spent last weekend at UVa grateful that my sister was safe, but wondering what people were thinking as I walked in cafes/stores in the Charlottesville community. Last week, I mourned. I was reminded of the first time I learned about racism. At age 5, I watched  as a close family member was unlawfully treated and spoke harshly too. I tried to understand why my color could make people so angry. 

 Martese's wounds hit hard. 

I've seen so many reactions to the term "black lives matter"  but I want to make this clear, when we chant black lives matter, we are saying that NO ONE should have his/her head bashed on the ground for no reason. We are saying that despite the SAE racist chants that found their way to Duke University's campus last week, WE MATTER. That while people say "this isn't a race thing", we clearly see that we can be targeted for the color of our skin. Please take a look at these cases on all campuses. Because this isn't an isolated event. 

Eric Garner. Tamir Rice. Mike Brown. Trayvon Martin. Their lives matter 

Martese's life matters 

No one deserves to have his/her life taken. No one deserves to be chained or jailed for no apparent reason. No one deserves to have racial slurs screamed at his/her face. Black UVa students don't deserve the comments or ignorance on the campus. Take a minute and think why must someone not say this is a "race thing"? 

"If you aren't angry, you aren't paying attention" 

- Tonyette

run with patience.

Taken from the lovely Lauren Mim's Tumblr

After a long battle with my health this past March, I had to make the very difficult decision to slow down this weekend. Since January I've been training for a 10 mile race and I injured myself on Tuesday. It was difficult because I didn’t want to let up. Even though I have been sick, I have tried my hardest to get back in the game and not give up. I decided the morning of the race I wouldn’t run and I cried. Definitely upset me on so many levels because I worked so hard to reach this goal, but I’ve been so sick this month it’s crazy. I can’t even begin to explain how crazy it’s been. 

Oftentimes our minds and our visions are so huge and beautiful. I know mines are for sure.  But we have to stop and slow down and check in with our physical and mental health. I am so exhausted from being sick and my feet are really messed up.

As much as it hurts that I couldn’t cross that finish line today, I had to be fair to my body. God literally was telling me to “slow down Tonyette” and I stopped to listen. 

Even though I didn’t race, I went to support my director, asst. director, co-advisers, and our program’s alum/family support. I was blown away by how people ran faster when we (me + two other advisers) cheered on people. We stood at one of the many hills and at the 7.5 mile mark. Many of my co-workers told us that we gave them the push to keep going to the end. How amazingis that?! Wow - truly powerful. I was reminded that not only is it important to run a race (whether it is an actual race or reaching a goal), but it is important to support and cheer on those in our circles.  I am so proud of my co-workers and I am beaming with joy! Today was a great day and I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to watch them run the race set before them<3 

This has been my memory verse for training and definitely for the past two years after being challenged in so many ways spiritually. 

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

Stay lifted. Every goal and dream will come to past - you just have to grow with the challenges and be patient with yourself <3

xoxoxo,

Tonyette