I need y’all to stop lying. I mean for real, I need you to stop lying. What do I mean? Lying about what Rajee? I been around the block a few times. I have seen things, talked to folks, and been amongst many walks of life. One thing that keeps coming up for me is that we have a racist, sexist, and other ist society, but no one is a purveyor of any of these isms. I am not the first to draft the prior point into words, but being first and only is not the core of my value structure. What is a core value is being real about my strengths and area of opportunity. I need y’all to stop lying.

What do I mean? I had a conversation a month or two ago with a friend and a good brother. The conversation was not just about how men in general treat women and it was not centered on how black men treat women by design, but it landed there due to the men talking at that time. We shared a moment of thought around the number of women we know who have revealed in trust the obscene, foul, and disturbing things they have experienced on Earth with men. With men in community and out. With men in family and out. Things like inappropriate touching, propositions, and far worse. I need y’all to stop lying. In my life as a male I have taken privilege and been inappropriate. I own that. I know that I am not the only one who even in the midst of my development has not made an error. Women say these things happen to them and some of us start with the bull that we have never seen a violation of any sort. The evidence is out there and I need y’all to stop lying.

I need y’all stop lying about consent. I need y’all stop lying about you prowess. I need y’all to stop lying about what happened that night. I need y’all to stop lying about how you care. I need y’all to stop lying. To get ahead of the fools that will say it, I don’t need any more evidence or data to support my view. I need y’all to stop lying. Own your shit and get some help. Stop lying. Make amends where appropriate. Stop lying. I need y’all to stop lying. For real. Peace.

Justice Rajee