Kelly McCreary Instagram – Lately when I see someone not wearing a mask in public I feel a flare of rage so powerful that I’ve had to really get to the bottom of why? Well part of it is because I am genuinely afraid of getting and spreading COVID. But the other part of it is that I follow the rules and it fills me with a righteous anger when other people don’t. Now, a lot of rules are unjust and harmful and they ought to be broken. But as a black woman, a constant, fearful undercurrent of my existence is that the consequences when I don’t follow the rules will be so much more severe for me than for other people. And worse, that harm can come to me whether I follow the rules or not. And I know this is true because EVERY DAY I see people getting away with shit and benefitting by breaking rules that the rest of us were told to follow. Every day I hear about black children being arrested — ARRESTED — for having a temper tantrum at school. About black women making 63 cents on the dollar for doing the same work as their white male counterparts and risk being deemed difficult or even being replaced when asking for parity. About an athlete being fired and blackballed for peacefully protesting police brutality. About “fans celebrating” their home team’s championship being considered “rowdy,” while black peaceful protestors are “thugs” met with riot gear, teargas and rubber bullets. About white people skipping steps on their climb up the corporate ladder because of their connections, while black people who are served by equal employment opportunities are considered unworthy diversity hires. About “tax evaders” going to jail while a white billionaire becomes a trillionaire without paying a dime in taxes. About peaceful protests that end in violence and destruction that was instigated by outsiders and the police themselves, while white people “protesting” with guns leave without harm to a hair on their head. I try to follow the rules, always. For my safety. And as an example to others. So when I see a person without a mask I genuinely have to resist the urge to tackle and beat the shit out of them. I’m fucking angry. So many of us are angry. But it’s not about the masks. It’s about all of it.