Black Life in 2020

Random Musings

2020 was some shit. That’s not a controversial thought unless you hit the lotto. It’s been an overwhelming year emotionally, mentally, and physically, with the world quarantined for most of it (unless you’re Atlanta, which had a Vaccine Release Party last Thursday, free before 11). It was a taxing time for everyone, but if you were Black (or anyone opposed to Black murder), a burst of justified fury exploded with the murders of Breona Taylor, Ahmaud Abrey, George Floyd, and Rayshard Brooks, leaving us feeling raw and angry at this familiar form of racist and domestic terrorism. As much as this anger oozed out from all corners of Black culture, Black people decompressed from the turmoil in interesting holistic and aesthetic ways.

It’s a constant battle to reclaim some sense of ownership in a country with systems designed explicitly to keep you down. In order to find a sense of control, many Black people turned to plant ownership, with a subculture emerging on social media of people posting their plants and gardens, forming a “green thumb” social network. Owning plants and being able to connect with the world has been a wonderful hobby and escape from the unrelenting emotional toll we deal with daily. There is something calming and reassuring about plant life, as it gives you a chance to have complete ownership while also connecting with nature.

During the NBA Bubble, Chris Paul, LeBron James… well, pretty much the whole league wore outfits with symbols of black culture. Shirts, jackets, sweaters, and shorts…