Wortham didn’t specify, exactly, why it was she and “everyone” was “tired”. But, “tired” could have referred to the trauma of the Derek Chauvin trial or seeing replays of the video of the former Minneapolis police officer killing George Floyd. “Tired” could have referred to seeing the video of another Black man Daunte Wright being shot by a Brooklyn Center, Minn., police officer after being pulled over by police for expired tags, as the police said.
“Tired” could have referred to the viral video of the Black Army officer pepper-sprayed by Virginia police during a traffic stop, a grim reminder to many Black Americans that even being in military uniform doesn't necessarily protect us from mistreatment by police. Tired could have referred to the viral video showing a white 42-year-old Army sergeant accosting and shoving a Black man in a South Carolina neighborhood.
The truth is, “tired” could be all that. Simply put, being Black in America is exhausting. No matter our gender, age or socioeconomic status, Black Americans are viewed as threats. As a result, we live under siege everyday.
Even before COVID-19 Black Americans have been forced to compartmentalize whatever personal trauma we carry with us.
But right now, like Wortham, we are all tired. We're tired of the status quo. We just want to be able to live -- in peace.