Three Days of Justice According to Donavan Lyons

Day 1

I start a new workout on my Apple watch. As the display reads Ready, 3,2,1… I begin my run. This February morning, my thoughts bring me pain and joy. In pain, I ponder how every February holds so much weight on my heart. I’m reminded of the many sacrifices my ancestors have endured over the years for my civil rights. I run for justice for my ancestors this morning in a neighborhood filled with people who do and don’t look like me. I run for equity.

I start my second mile as my heart palpitates and thoughts deepen. I am thankful for my history. I am overjoyed by how we have space to celebrate our culture. My mind reflects to when I ran track as a kid, when the world was mine. I was the fastest runner in the world and the world could do no harm. When I ran, I would imagine myself as my idols—Olympic runners like Michael Johnson and Carl Lewis. I’d imagine the work it took to get where they were and how I could one day be a successful track star. Carl Lewis said, “It’s all about the journey, not the outcome.” Like Carl and Mike, I found myself striving step by step, working to get to my next milestone; working to enjoy the process of success, status, and becoming a star. It seemed no one could harm them and they were living their dream, racing against the world. It was great to envision myself also as a positive Black male role model representing their communities.

As a kid, I competed in track and won. I had my own medals, and imagined they were as heavy as the Olympic gold. Heavy like the journey it took to get to where they were. I hoped I would have my own Olympic golds. I raced through life’s journeys, through the peaks and valleys. Standing on my ancestors’ shoulders, I am rewarded for life’s progress. My watch buzzes, reminding me of my progress in miles and the work that remains. I tap done on my watch and my journey continues.

Image: Chicago Sky by Donavan Lyons

Day 3

Our hairstyle says a lot about who we are, our character, and our expressions. It helps maintain our culture. It makes a person feel confident, professional, and a force when their hair looks and acts right. It helps us get that job, do great on a presentation, or just smile at ourselves in the mirror. This self-care is now more important than ever with current news and events. As part of self-care, I make sure to take care of myself mentally and physically during this quarantine.

Living in a COVID-19 world, the importance of self-care has become evident not only to myself but to my family. COVID-19 has changed our lives. My family and I socially distance. This epidemic has caused us to change our mindset on how we socialize with others, including barbers and beauticians. I have yet to attend the barbershop in almost a year. Prior to COVID-19 I would go every two or three weeks to maintain my hair.

The quarantine period has forced me to learn many new skills that I would not have acquired, including cutting my own hair. Through YouTube videos and practice, I have managed to learn how to cut my hair well. I typically keep my hair short thanks to my dad. The short hair and clean lines remind me of his honorable military service. I remember as a kid, my dad and I going to get our hair cut at the barbershop. We would bond and have great father-son conversations. As I got older, I drove myself to the same barbershop. It was a nice time for the two of us. Just us.

Justice finds a way to bring people together. In a search for justice, equity, and education, our world will be a better place for all.

Image: Black Mirror by Donavan Lyons