Open Water

“It's one thing to be looked at, and another to be seen.”

I am still struggling to wrap my head around the fact that a story that has less than 200 pages can manage to leave such an impactful feeling on me.

Open Water explores what it is to be young and black. The fear and anxieties that come with being black in a society that is consistently failing and hurting you, especially from the people who are sworn by law and duty to protect you.

There are so many themes that are covered in such a small book, such as racism, microaggressions police brutality and many more.

As white people, we will never understand what it feels like to fear for our safety whenever a police car pulls us over or passes us by. We will never understand the pain that racism and its repercussions have had and still have on the black community. I hate that stories such as these need to be told but I am glad that it's something that people can now find comfort in knowing they are not alone.

This was a beautiful read.