I’ve been fortunate to see Angie Thomas speak twice now! When she spoke about the violence and loss that has plagued our communities I was on my feet with tears in my eyes. The amount of energy we spend trying to keep our Black children safe, in a culture that doesn’t value them is our most pervasive nightmare.

Although the ongoing conversations with my son and daughter remain heartbreaking, I also feel hope and gratitude as I see new levels of allyship and support for equality.