JM SEBA @jmseba - Tumblr Blog

There are no silver linings. I will never be grateful for it. I will never be glad for it. There are no silver linings. Trauma is not a Fortune 500 board of directors member, trauma is not a national league sports team owner, trauma is not an ivy league chancellor. Observers see that diamonds are forged from intense pressure and assume the same for humans. We know better. Trauma is an RBMK meltdown: lethal. It contaminates everything it touches. Pollutes at the microscopic level: diseased DNA passed on for generations. Trauma is poison contained in walls 10 feet deep. There are no silver linings. No one needs violence to be a better person. The freak accidents that beget human suffering aren’t morality tales. Aesop said the scorpion kills the frog: they both drown and the story ends. Not so fast: humans need to assign meaning. They wonder if the frog asked for it. What was the frog wearing, exactly? There are no silver linings. Don’t let anyone tell you that god works in mysterious ways. If god gets all the credit when things go right, it follows that god gets all the blame when things go wrong. Don’t let Carol’s existential discomfort that god would NEVER let something like THAT happen to his undeserving faithful dissuade you from what you already know. Fuck a silver lining. It wasn’t what Brendon meant, but I scream the lyrics at the top of lungs in the car. I scream, I scream sing until I’m crying, desperately wishing you were here. Wanting to go back in time and pause when we saw Brendon sing it live, together. I miss you so much. God I miss you so much. FUCK a silver lining. Fuck a silver lining. To those who know this to be true: I’m so sorry your life was taken from you. I’m so sorry your childhood was robbed, your resources plundered, your future impoverished from the predatory compounding interest of your past. Fuck a silver lining. We will never be grateful for it, we will never be glad. See us. See us and know WE ARE HERE.

#mental health #suicide awareness #painting #watercolor #illustration

JUSTICE 4 STEPHON

Stephon Clark was a 22 year old black man living in Sacramento. He was a doting father to two children and a loving husband. Despite his difficult upbringing (including an absent father, his stepbrother’s untimely passing, and juvenile delinquency) he blossomed into a passionate young man. He was an athlete, did extremely well in school, and was an involved volunteer to community youth.

On March 18, 2018, Sacramento police received a call that someone had been smashing car windows with a crowbar. A police helicopter patrolling the neighborhood spotted Stephon and told officers on the ground they had spotted him using a tool bar to break a window.

Officers confronted Stephon and claimed he pointed a shiny, gun-like object at them. Stephon was shot 8 times, 6 times in the back. He was in his grandmother’s yard and holding his wife’s iPhone. The SPD changed their story many times about what Stephon was holding. The officers involved in the shooting are still working as police to this day.

#blm #black lives matter #stephon clark #gouache #say his name

JUSTICE 4 KAWASKI

Kawaski Trawick was a 32 year old black gay man living in the Bronx. He had an associate’s in business and was extremely good at it. He managed several franchises in Atlanta. However, his true passion was dance, and he moved to NY to become a beloved aerobics/dance instructor.

On April 14, 2019, there were a few calls made to 911 from his apartment. First, Kawaski called emergency services because he was locked out of his apartment. FDNY cut open the door and left. Next, a security officer reported to 911 that Kawaski was banging on doors of his neighbors and was a potentially emotionally disturbed person. When NYPD arrived at Kawaski’s door, he was holding a kitchen knife and explained he was cooking. Officers tasered him and shot him to death.

Kawaski’s death was inhumane and completely unjustified. He committed no crimes, was contained within his apartment, and was dealing with an unknown mental disturbance. We still don’t know the names of the officers that murdered him.

#blm #no justice no peace #say his name #painting #artwork

JUSTICE 4 BREONNA

Breonna Taylor was a 26 year old EMT. She and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker were sleeping when Louisville, KY officers conducted a no-knock raid on March 13 2020. Police claimed they announced themselves before using a battering ram to enter, but Kenneth, neighbors, and other witnesses didn’t hear anyone announcing their presence. Kenneth fired his legally owned firearm because he believed a home invasion was in progress.

The Louisville police returned fire and shot Breonna 8 times, killing her. As if the loss of her precious life wasn’t horrible enough, the police had already arrested their main suspect earlier that day. Police believed drug sales were being delivered to Kenneth’s home: no drugs were found. A midnight no-knock raid was completely out of line.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative reassignment. Although an investigation is underway, the officers involved need to be held accountable. None of the events leading up to Breonna’s death were acceptable.

#justice for breonna #breonna #black lives matter #blm #painting