I traveled to suburban towns to find families, teenagers, the elderly, standing out of their homes and town halls with their Black Lives Matter signs, in solidarity. In that same ilk, supporters of Donald Trump, aka “Supporters of ALL LIVES MATTER” began coming out, shouting disparaging, remorseless remarks at young people and families who don't - “BACK THE BLUE!” They scream and shout at these people, “ALL LIVES MATTER,” as they sometimes collectively come together with their “TRUMP 2020” signs and yell, “MAGA” and “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” to counter protestors opposing them. The atmosphere at these events is nothing that I have ever seen before. In a country that is truly a melting-pot of ethnicities and beliefs, why are we so close, yet so divided? Watching the news as the weeks have gone by, the protests haven’t let up.
Pressure was mounting as people continued to march and protest, not letting the moment slide out one bit. The networks decided not to cover the events as they occurred unless something major occurred or is tied into their central narrative. That infuriated me because, you see the hard work people put into organizing and executing these demonstrations. Every day people coming together for a common cause, and their events and actions are not being covered. It was kind of a slap in the face for those who are working hard to keep the momentum going. That’s when I made the decision to continue filming until Mid-August. Word got around that a huge march was being organized in Washington DC to commemorate the 57th Anniversary of the March on Washington back in 1963. I sprung into action to purchase new equipment so I can professionally shoot the next events/rallies/and marches that followed. As the marches continued, and as we prepared to head to Washington, the political atmosphere of the nation shifted from the energy of police brutality to election season.
The topic of systemic racism and police reform started to get into the ears of political individuals who would arrive to certain rallies and marches, to stand in solidarity with protestors, to count on a vote to help with the change. Whether this yields fruit or not is inconclusive. To me, part of the conversation for change, is to continually “converse” with one another to understand each other, despite our differences and ideals. To understand pain. To understand separatism, and how can we come together during this time where it seems like we are more apart than together. If we stop misunderstanding one another, and not try to get along, I’m afraid that the things that we cherish and adore, might be lost forever, and we might not get it back. On the final day of the last protest I decided to shoot for the summer, I said to myself – “You’ve come a long way Crosby.” You we’re afraid to shoot a protest over fear of the unknown, yet, after twelve weeks of filming, that fear has subsided, and now, nothing scares you at all. I said to myself, “I’m not afraid to speak out and speak my truth. I’m not afraid to turn my lens and not ask a question to those whose views I might not agree with. I discovered that even your hands, and your talent, can help others tell the story of how we all choose to overcome.
As I recall this unique adventure I have gone through, I thought to myself. A place, where a Black Lives Matter Protestor, and an All Lives Matter Protestor, just stops what they are protesting about, and just talk about their grievance’s, their issues, their feelings, their beliefs, and try to come to an understanding for one another. For I feel, that is what America is. And when we say “Why, Now!?” It’s because – it is time to come together. To heal and love as one nation. Like Dr. King says, “We as a people, will get to the promise land.” Because we see the glory of the Lord. And it is massive, beyond what we hope or dream. We just – need to get there, one step, at a time. Why Now? Why Not!
