No More Hashtags: Who You Calling?

By Monica M. Leak

Why do black and brown shades of humanity result in so much intimidation and fear?
A supposed threat to America that whose history many hold as sacred and dear.
Four hundred years later still fighting for liberty and justice for all;
Only to become victim to white fragility through these unnecessary phone calls.
The stories are never ending ; this collection like the one prior and overflowing cup
Can we just live our best lives, now that’s what’s up.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796071351

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#NO

MORE

HASH

TAGS

Who You Calling?

Monica Leak

Copyright © 2019 by Monica Leak.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Every attempt has been made to cite the specific work and authors and any oversight is welcome for correction so that proper attribution can be made in future publications.

No More Hashtags: Who You Calling?

Monica M. Leak

Lana M. Hooks, Editor

Derek Robinson, Cover Design

Cara-Lynn Birts, Photographer

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 12/21/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

805448

CONTENTS

I.  #Call

The Call

When You Call the Police

When We Meet

Just Tired

Moving

Girls’ Trip

The Expected Norm

Black Girls Golf

Work Out

BBQ Becky

You Don’t Belong

Black Boy Trauma

Are You Thirsty, Permit Patty?

Pool Patrol

Apologize

Coupon

Grass Cut

My Business

Waiting on My Ride

Can I Have My Lunch in Peace?

At the Nail Salon

Last Minute

On the Campaign Trail

Lost

Man, That’s My Grandma!

Babysitting while Black

An Ode to Cornerstore Caroline

Putting Out the Flames

Trying to Help Somebody

About that Paper

Baby Bump

Leaves

Bank

No Sleep

Check the Front Door

Who You Calling?

II.  #Response

Response to the Welcome

Answering the Call

Having Breakfast

Imitation

Questions and Answers

What Is Right?

Statement and Commentary

Stand Your Ground

Affirmation

Down at the Church

Surprise

Strength to Forgive

We See You

Acknowledgments

We dedicate this collection to mothers, sons, fathers, daughters, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, the neighbor across the street, and the dudes down the way

To everybody, this work is yours, why?

’Cause when the phone rings you answer.

’Cause when you see something going down you go live and record

’Cause when the phone has been used to make false accusations

’Cause when a phone has been used because of so-called threat or fear

You answer with boldness and in your authentic self say, Who you calling?

#Call

The Call

Hello?

Yes

And you are?

And the problem is?

What concern is my being here of yours?

Do you own the sidewalk?

Public Property

My waiting on someone is none of your business?

Just keep on walking

Who are you to ask for my ID?

Seriously

Yes, I’m recording for the whole world to see

The foolishness for just simply being black like me

Not surprised, not surprised

This foolishness keeps happening and recorded live

When will the harassment of black people end?

Can’t catch a break, now who you calling?

When You Call the Police

Domestic violence, abuse, a crime taking place, a life or death situation.

Yet, here we go again with nonsense calls on black folks trying to live life without altercation.

When you call the police,

How do you explain the foolishness that you’re about to say?

Like you never watched or heard about Extreme Couponing that comes on TLC during the day.

People cut them out of newspapers, save them from labels of products used.

You can get them offline, if you’re savvy, so when has saving dollars been a form of abuse?

When you call the police,

Can’t believe you had the nerve to say that I was trying to take advantage of the system.

According to your corporate office, customers can use an app with digital coupons, but you’re saying I can’t use them?

If there’s a limit on the coupons somewhere, it should clearly state

That we only honor coupons up to a certain amount, would clear things up right away?

But no, you called the police and had the nerve to get annoyed

To even say, I hate people like you.’ why in customer service are you employed?

So, when you call the police, what is a person who feels threatened supposed to do?

Pull out the camera and press record and let the situation play through.

Police arrived and no charges were filed.

Like with any of these incidents, resolution is going to take a while.

While store representatives from the headquarters declined questions,

Matters like this, they say they take seriously and have this incident under investigation.

The sad thing is that for people of color these meaningless calls are becoming a more common situation.

Police calls are supposed to be for emergencies,

This calling for the basic to figure out solutions makes