Welcome back to the blog, friends.
I would love to say I am coming at you on an extremely high note, but as I sit in the airport with my sister, shit's going up in flames.
It isn't that my flight was delayed, cancelled, and delayed again (thanks Florida storms), but rather that yesterday, the day I was supposed to leave Minneapolis, another Black man was shot by the police.
The kicker? The bitch says she accidentally grabbed her taser instead of her gun.
It is blatantly obvious the lack of care some people have for human beings that look like me.
It's hard to swallow.
Daunte Wright was only 20 years old. He was barely out of his teen years. Black people in Minneapolis are predestined for death by police and if not, a load of emotional trauma by having their brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins, and loved ones killed far too young.
(Daunte Wright with a family member)
Just days ago, I visited George Floyd Square and felt a mixture of grief and hope. Grief for the loss of a Black man, someone who in their last breaths cried for their mother and for a chance to be treated as a human. My hope was that this would be one of the last times.
That hope is dissolving and the prospect of it not returning, for myself and for my community, makes me physically ill.
It really is crazy to think that I was in Minneapolis to visit University of Minnesota's School of Public Health and I was here to witness one of the greatest public health failures of our country: the inability to preserve the lives of Black people. In a state where health care is one of the best in the country, it is the root of my professional interest to answer the question: why don't Black people have the opportunity to thrive as well?
Additionally, there was a school shooting in Knoxville because, of course.
I wish that there was someone who was making decisions on the larger level that would prevent needless death in a country that claims to be the best in the world.
With all due respect, that seems like bullshit to me right now.
I am heartbroken and just sad.
This is why it is so important for us to care about making the world around us a more just place. I will never be able to solve all of the problems that make so many of our hearts heavy, and I will never be content with just accepting it, no matter how "impractical" it may seem.
If we aren't using our talents to support each other in a way that creates a world where someone isn't shot for having too many air fresheners on their rearview mirror, it is wasted. And we are complicit.
So much for a travel blog, huh?
But no, no I promise I'll show you all some of my favorite spots in Minneapolis.
Stone Arch Bridge
(Genevieve and myself)
(Beginning of Stone Arch Bridge)
One of my favorite things about Minneapolis versus the places that I have lived in South Florida is how walkable it is. It is ranked one of the best places to cycle and walk in the country.
When outdoors, not only do you see beautiful views and historical architecture, but you see members of the community running, walking, biking, roller skating, and everything in between. Visiting in April and not in January definitely has its perks in terms of weather, but people are out and about year-round.
Stone Arch Bridge was such a fun place to walk because not only did I get to see my dear friend Genevieve, who I met the first couple years of my undergrad, but it was buzzing with so many people: families with dogs, women with babies, couples.
We walked to a nearby brunch spot and had mimosas on a beautiful patio. It was definitely a highlight.
A Few of the 10,000 Lakes
(Evelyn and myself riding bikes at Cedar Lake)
(Me at Cedar Lake on a dock)
I would be more specific here, but honestly, you can't go wrong.
We visited Cedar Lake Park and rode bikes along the perimeter of the lake. It was not only wonderfully chilly April weather, but the wind made for a freeing feeling as we passed the brick houses and fellow park patrons. I imagined what tricking or treating must be like in a place like this where autumn felt both cozy and spooky rather than the endless heat of South Florida.
Minnehaha Falls
(My sister Evelyn looking cute and stylish at Minnehaha Falls)
One of the most beautiful things I have been blessed to see in my lifetime is waterfalls. Minnehaha Falls did not disappoint. I highly encourage you to sit with the sounds and textures of nature and just enjoy. It's breathtaking.
I also suggest people watching here. There are so many different groups of people from many walks of life and one of the most interesting things I think that one can do in a new place is to watch and listen. These strangers were my informal introduction to Minnesota.
University of Minnesota- Twin Cities Campus
(Myself in the UMN School of Public Health)
(Evelyn and I walking through campus)
The main purpose of my trip was to visit the University of Minnesota. I had really no idea what the campus or the School of Public Health was like and honestly, coming from a public undergraduate university, I wasn't expecting much.
I was honestly blown away by how beautiful the campus was.
The old brick buildings, the signage, the foliage, sculptures... I loved it.
USF in Tampa is an amazing school with a beautiful campus but the minute I left the car at University of Minnesota, I felt excited about the fall.
Taste of Africa Restaurant
(My cassava greens and rice)
(PLANTAINS!)
My sister and I were told by our parents that a lot of Liberian immigrants, including a lot of their old high school classmates, live in Minnesota. We wanted to try and find some African food while we were in Minneapolis.
We happened to stumble upon Taste of Africa and when we received our food, we were blown away by how much it reminded us of our childhood. Not only did we find Vimto, an African soda we haven't had since we were in Liberia over ten years ago, but the portions were insanely huge, just as they would be at home.
We could even tell by the accent of the man who served us that they were Liberian. They were extremely hospitable and kind and even gave us extra pepper kala, which is fried puff dough balls dipped in hot pepper sauce.
George Floyd Square
(Mural outside of Cup Foods, where George Floyd was murdered)
(Evelyn and myself; image by Pennie Bucilla)
Although I caution from treating George Floyd Square as just a tourist visit, I do think it is an amazing display of community organization and something that was important for me to see. Additionally, I think I needed a way to acknowledge him and mourn his tragic murder for myself.
(Community information board at George Floyd Square)
(Myself processing at the George Floyd Square memorial)
Kente cloth spun into velvet-rope type barriers, chalk art lamenting police brutality and injustice, piles and piles of flowers over photos of Mr. George Floyd, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery... the site was painfully beautifully.
I came incredibly close to tears as I said a silent prayer. I prayed for Minnesota, for the Black people there whom for this is more than a hashtag. I prayed for this country, for prison abolition, and community support and resources, and I thanked God for those who cared so deeply about my life and the lives of other BIPOC.
I had hoped I would never have to pray for such pain and violence again, knowing it was unrealistic.
So, the question becomes, "Why are you moving to Minneapolis if the police brutality is so bad there?"
The fact of the matter is, whether you see it or acknowledge it or not, there is racism everywhere in this country. Even in other countries, anti-blackness is pervasive.
The truth of being a Black person is to acknowledge the harsh reality that you don't get to escape it, no matter how hard you try. What I can do, is commit to doing what I can within my community.
I always say that the labor doesn't need to fall on the backs of Black people to solve the issues of racism. I know that part of the work I want to commit my life to is racial justice and health equity. Minnesota is a place that obviously needs that work and is the place I could see myself doing that work.
I'm going to enjoy hiking, canoeing, skating, biking, and learning in the Twin Cities just as much as I will be determined to work towards a more equal and fair Minnesota.
Comentarios