The decisions that were made in my early childhood years were based on racism from the day my skin turned unexpectedly brown. My birth mother was Caucasian as well as her husband. They had every intention on keeping me they took me home I met the family and about a month later things went left when my skin color suddenly got darker and where I lived it wasn’t hot enough for me to get a tan. My bio grandfather decided against my birth mothers wishes to give me to Catholic services I was adopted by a Black couple who specifically asked for a dark child to match their skin tone Catholic Services told them I was not biracial that my birth parents were both black. While in their care I was severely abused she was an alcoholic. The physical abuse went on for about 3 yrs while child services attempted to keep me in the home until that went left and I weighed 15 lbs at the age of 3 I was listless and on the brink of death they told her I actually had died. I was told later that back than black children didn’t matter that is why they told her I died and not to inquire. I was than put into foster care through the state , at age 5 I was adopted by a Caucasian family who were told that I was biracial my birth mom was white and my birth father was black that they could no longer take care of me. When I turned 18 I began my search for my birth family I learned so much on this journey how racism had such an impact on my life and how God turned that ugliness around that could have impacted my life in such a negative way. While on this journey I spoke with one person who was there when I was only a month old and said you are not Niggra your white I saw you. The reason you are darker is because your Grandmother is a dark Mexican this conversation took place 2007! Speaking with my birth father I am learning the history of my ancestors and how slavery and systemic racism has impacted them. It’s crazy how my mixed blood is divided through my ancestors due to racism. So this is why I say Black Lives Matter because for so long far to long we have not mattered. The decisions and the laws that are made majority of the time are to keep us oppressed to keep us in our place and than sugar coated to make the outcome palatable. During Slavery times we were told if you had 1% black blood you were considered black. Even if your skin was almost white you were black. You may have had some better choices than someone darker than you but you were not equal! That thinking is still with us today. Racism is such a horrible and evil disease that has infected generation to generation. This disease,which has been a mainstay in this country, has changed the trajectory of so many lives and this nation as a whole. God and his infinite grace has lead me to where I am today. However, it deeply saddens me that so much has not changed. I am for protesting 100% and commend everyone who is standing and kneeling with us. I thank those who have spoken to me individually, asked questions and were transparent. We need to keep the conversation going so that laws are no longer made to oppress us or keep us in our place! We need laws that change unequal landscape of the American culture. We need to do As Dr. king said ” transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. As individuals and as a nation we all need to stand together and whole heartedly say one nation under God, Indivisible with liberty and justice for all,FOR ALL. Now I know this will take many many years because racism is deeply ingrained in our society. Still, we must continue to fight to remove the hate, remove the pain and remove the the boot from our necks so we all can breath. Let’s work to unite America.