The intervals between “snoozes” are getting shorter and shorter. The dreamy denial that drools from your creased lips has soaked your pillow. The gaslighting rebuttals that lulled you to sleep weren’t bright enough for a good 💡 idea.
You’ve slept through a pandemic, two very different types of riots, another gun debate, and the newest voter suppression. Like any other depression, you thought a “good night sleep” would erase all of your worries. You’ve grown so weary of the lies, manipulation, and politics that your slumber felt like a hibernation. But you are no bear!
You’re an ostrich—head buried deep in the ground. So when you’re sleeping, you can’t see the light. When you’re awake, you don’t see the light. Either way doesn’t make you too bright.
But the hint that you’re not astute unleashes a sleepy arrogance. You prepare your arguments using memes and zingy one-liners you once heard on the late show. Your untrained ears walk lockstep with your sleepy mind as you yearn of a time long ago that you never experienced.
You never stood a chance of making something great because you don’t know what great is. But your appalled now?!? Good! Be upset! Be so upset that you’re willing to do something about it.
But your fantasies and reminiscent meanderings make your eyes heavy (again). Who is this intended for? The racist, anti-racist, or the anti-racist activist??? Which shoe fits you best?
How many more episodes of injustice must you witness? How many more politicians will tell you to your face (through a big screen, of course) that they can do whatever they’d like without repercussions?
The “good ‘ol days” were 10 years ago—before black men were publicly slain. First by neighborhood watchmen and later by cops, who are we kidding? We fell asleep a long time ago. We had a chance to wake up, but we hit the snooze button.
Yes…we! I fell asleep right there along with you. I didn’t know enough to be sorry. I didn’t know my role yet. I didn’t take responsibility. None Of this makes sense. It didn’t then and it doesn’t now.
So while you wipe the sleepy dust from your eyes, throw me a fresh rag. Let’s get out of here. Let’s do something right (for a change). What are we waiting for?
Hey did you hear? After registering millions of eligible voters, inspiring a new generation of leaders, and flipping a state, Georgia was set back a hundred years with one swift flick of a pen. But we are still sleepy. Maybe someone else will set things straight. 🤦🏽♂️
Hey did you hear? Another gun-toting Ken shot up a neighborhood… No, not the one last week in Atlanta (where several Asian women were killed because the gunner was unsatisfied). A different gunman! This one shot up a grocery store in Colorado. It happened before any dust settled. It happened before any ashes became ashes. Both gunmen apprehended without a fatal shot from a cop. Fatal shot TO an officer, though. It’s been another sad week. 🥺 BUT a jury has finally been selected in the case where a cop plead not-guilty to kneeling on a black man’s neck for 8 minutes.
Who can’t breath now? Are you snoring or suffering from apnea. YOU are still living! Congratulations.
Your slumber has been shortened to catnaps. But you still sleep. Your REM sleep sets in moments after your big head hits the pillow. Each time the alarm sounds, you snort another “I don’t wanna…” and hit the snooze.
Do me a favor? WAKE UP! For EVERY action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. But we haven’t seen nearly as many opposite REACTIONS yet. How much longer do you suppose it will be? You don’t want to wake up, but everyone else is awake. What you are seeing is not the result of Americans sleeping. Everybody discarded the clock and is waiting by the window, peeping out the curtain—some with weapons in hand.
Look at you in your night cap!
Aztec Promises 