What a dumpster fire of a week. It’s Monday night and I’m sitting on my couch listening to the near constant wailing of sirens, just as I’ve done for the past 3 nights.
Chicago is on fire. Literally and figuratively. There are protests all over the city. Mayor Lightfoot instituted an indefinite curfew starting on Saturday night and called in the National Guard. Governor Pritzker has issued a Disaster Proclamation. Public transportation has been suspended. All of the bridges are up. In one 24 hour period over 65,000 calls came into the 911 call center. Neighborhood businesses are being trashed and looted. Grocery stores are closed and boarded up. No neighborhood is safe, not even mine.
My heart is heavy. I cycle through sadness, despair and rage. I don’t feel hopeful for the future.
Rather than sing my song of sorrow, I’m choosing to mute my voice and amplify the voices of some black photographers that I follow on Instagram that are covering the protests. Give them a follow and see the protests through their eyes.
@joshualott
@kevinclaiborne
@phobymo
@coco.butter.shutter
@emackeycreates
@sylviajarrusphoto
@anthonybgeathers
@byalexishunley
@demetrius.freeman
@khickmanphotography
Finally, I highly recommend reading the book “Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America” by Michael Eric Dyson.
Hope everyone is safe.
Cheers,
Bec