Unseen injustices

Ahmaud Aubrey is out for a jog. White men, primed to think he is up to no good, grab their guns and kill him. Ahmaud’s life is worthless.

Joe Biden says that any African American who voted for President Donald Trump “ain’t black.” A black vote is only valid if a white man approves.

George Floyd, a prone and restrained black man, is killed by white police. He doesn’t resist but gets a knee to the neck. His submission is worthless.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. an African American, calls for the arrest of Floyd’s killers. Because he is a Republican, he is subjected to white people’s accusations of complicity in racism. His painful personal experiences and lifelong effort to help his community are worthless.

Christian Cooper, an African American bird-watcher, dares to ask a white woman to obey the rules. Mid-tantrum, she tells him that she is “going to call the cops and tell them that an African American man is threatening my life.” She does.

Mr. Cooper’s rights and safety are worthless.

Over the last few weeks, people of color also suffered through thousands of unseen injustices. While white people cavalierly weaponized, politicized and dog-whistled race, people of color lived with — or died from — the consequences.

Post-traumatic stress disorder manifests in feelings of powerlessness and impending doom. Living with loss of dignity causes shame. Fear is exhausting. Vulnerability causes anger that is impossible to contain. Trauma-altered DNA passes this tragedy from generation to generation.

I can’t breathe.

CHERYL MOORE

Squirrel Hill