Black Voices STORY: Annisa Charles PHOTO: Gianna Horvath DESIGN: Candace Castillo
Racism didn’t start in June 2020. It didn’t start with George Floyd. It didn’t start once we all had recording devices in our pockets. It started hundreds of years ago, and it has continued to fester and live on, affecting so many of us. Living in fear of those who should protect us, of those who should be our friends, of those who we call our neighbors shouldn’t be a life to live. Yet, many of us have to endure that life simply for being Black. The Civil Rights movement has truly never ended, and Angela Davis reminds us of that with every step she takes in her activism. Homes are destroyed and Black children are forced to become adults sooner than they should, as Ross Blanton had to endure. Reminding ourselves to not forget what and who we are fighting for— how we can even forget to continue fighting for ourselves. It can be exhausting, but well needed to be able to see change, as Isaac shows us. Keeping a space for Black voices in our magazine is important to continue educating and enlightening those who don’t know what it means to endure violence simply for being Black. For being denied jobs because of their skin. For being subjected to deep-rooted racism in their schools or places of work. For having to live their life in fear of it being ended too soon at the hands of another due to blatant hate towards Black individuals. Tusk continues Black Voices to give Black individuals a place to feel heard and accepted. TU SK
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