5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

I woke up out of my dead sleep an hour ago. I knew Trump won before I went to bed. I just thought I might have a full nights sleep first

Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:40:46

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796301496698671104

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:40:46

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

I'm the only one awake at my place so woke up lonely and deeply sad. So I came here. Looking for something.

Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:43:37

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796302217519239168

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:43:37

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

Sometimes it just feels too big, too overwhelming. The deep hatred and anger in America had always been there. But sometimes

Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:46:19

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796302893406126080

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:46:19

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

Sometimes you know a relationship has been over for years, but hearing the words "I don't love you" still cuts deeply That is where I am

Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:49:19

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796303649555251200

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:49:19

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

I know America hates me. I know it is full of bigotry and ignorance. I have no illusions It still hurts to hear

Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:51:12

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796304122987343872

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 10:51:12

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

This feeling I feel now is one I haven't felt in years. Not since arguing kids out of jail. I had a girl on probation

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:02:08

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796306876703133697

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:02:08

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

She'd done everything we'd asked of her. The hard work, the soul searching, brought up her grades, stayed out of trouble.

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:03:44

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796307277540106240

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:03:44

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

She had done so well she'd been selected to represent our program in Albany.

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:05:49

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796307802453082112

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:05:49

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

But the case that had brought her to us a year earlier although minor, was a probation violation. But nobody had bothered to violate her.

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:07:23

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796308195711053824

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:07:23

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

So here we are with our model child, excited to advocate for juvenile justice. And the police come to arrest her

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:08:43

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796308534434627584

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:08:43

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

In over a year she had done everything asked of her. By us, by the court, by probation. But was arrested on a clerical error

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:10:41

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796309026527125504

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:10:41

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

I had never been an expert witness before, but I tried my best to present her case. "She is EXACTLY what you want from us!"

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:12:06

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796309383953190912

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:12:06

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

I spoke of her achievements, her grades, her progress, her mentorship of others, her empathy, her dedication

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:13:43

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796309789764702208

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:13:43

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

She turned to me after I stepped off the stand and said "Thank you, Mister for fighting for me. Its not going to matter" My heart broke

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:16:09

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796310404855119872

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:16:09

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

"They're gonna to see all you've done" "No, Mister. They won't" "But..." "Its ok."

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:18:00

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796310870045368321

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:18:00

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

I knew she was right, but I a 20 something idealist wouldn't accept the truth this 14 year old kid didn't even question

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:20:13

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796311426688315392

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:20:13

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

The system didn't care about her. Didn't respect her. Didn't care if she rehabilitated or not. I thought reason might prevail She knew

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:22:00

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796311873910083584

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:22:00

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

As I watched the light go out of her eyes as she was led away something in me broke I left the courthouse and wandered the street in tears

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:23:38

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796312285417472000

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:23:38

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

How could it be THIS fucked? How was I so powerless to lose a child who should have been a model case? How could the system be so dense?

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:25:14

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796312689362477056

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:25:14

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

And I knew this loss was bigger for her and her family than for me. What right did I have to mourn?

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:26:50

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796313091470487552

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:26:50

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

I vowed to never be that off guard again. To never give the system that much credit again. And I didn't

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:28:53

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796313608225492992

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:28:53

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

I've never been caught off guard by the system and its hatred again. I wasn't tonight either But the FEELING is back

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:31:46

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796314334846652417

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:31:46

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

What did happen was this I studied that case. I pored over it. Every bit of evidence, every word of testimony, every trick prosecution used

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:34:22

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796314985534210048

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:34:22

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

I fucking armed myself with knowledge and vengeance. I couldn't do anything more for this girl, but I could do more for others

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:36:43

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796315576939479040

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:36:43

5'7 Black Male@absurdistwords

On that stand, I'd been unprepared for the dirty tricks. I would never be again. I never was again

Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:38:52

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https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/796316122035396608

— 5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords)Wed, Nov 09 2016 11:38:52