Hola Mijas,
Today’s blog continues a series of blogs that we hope will help educate other women across the country on the issue of social injustice within the black community.
The Mijas reached out to strong, powerful black women to ask a question that might not be so simple for some to understand.
What does Black Lives Matter mean to you?
Jala Washington is a 25 year old Bilingual Multimedia Journalist, Reporter, and Fill-in anchor for the KFOX/CBS station in El Paso, Texas. She was born and raised in Indiana. For 15 years of her life, she was an athlete (gymnastics), which has shaped and molded her into who she is today. She is competitive by nature, and competed in D1 gymnastics at Ball State University for 4 years.
While in undergrad, Jala triple-majored in Journalism, Telecommunications, and Spanish Linguistics. She spent one summer doing an internship at a magazine in Madrid, Spain.
Jala accepted her first job right after college, and moved to Amarillo, Texas. She spent a little over a year there, and transferred within the company to KFOX/CBS in El Paso, TX.
Jala absolutely loved the borderland, has made lasting friendships, and feels as if the stories she is still telling here are forever changing her life. And she hope they’re making somewhat of an impact on the community here.
This is what Black Lives Matter means to Jala:
“Black Lives Matter,” is more than a movement, and it’s certainly not political. It’s something that has to be said, because for years, our country has not valued the lives of black people. Our lives have been treated as disposable–unimportant. So, when you hear “Black Lives Matter,” know that dozens of black men and women have been senselessly killed. Of course, all lives matter. But, when black people are killed more than any other race, it begins to feel personal–even if you haven’t been directly impacted, yet.
We say “Black Lives Matter” with our brothers, fathers, sons, sisters, cousins and friends in mind. We have to say “Black Lives Matter,” because it’s the simplest way to say, “Hey, we’re hurting. We’re tired. And we don’t want to lose anyone else. We matter.”
Black people should be able to survive arrests, even if they have committed a crime. Black people should be able to go on a jog without being ambushed by white men, claiming it to be a “citizen’s arrest.” I should be able to innocently sleep inside of my apartment, without fearing I’ll be accidentally shot to death by those who took an oath to protect and serve.
“Black Lives Matter,” is more than a movement. It’s a continuous cry for basic equality. Is that too much to ask for?
Mija, yes you can….. come out on top, even with all odds stacked against you. Never let someone tell you what you can’t do. A strong-willed woman is a force to be reckoned with.
Mija, Yes you can. 