Sandra Bland

Please make sure you read the Author's Note posted before this.

"Good evening my Kings and my Queens. It is Sunday, February 15, 2015. We have about what 13 days in the month of February-13 days left in Black History month so what are you going to do out there to make your stamp? What are you gonna to do change not just Black history but American history? This week we saw probably one of the worst things that we could ever seen which was the stripping of that trophy from Jackie Robinson West. Now, when the kids were playing that game we supported them, we rallied behind them and we put them on-they, you know, they put this city on their back and carried us to this game. Carried us to that National Championship and really won and represented their city the best way that they could. So, we applaud you for that. So, now, two months later you guys want to take the trophy because of what? You know, the coach-"

The oven timer went off pulling Lena's attention from the computer screen. Pausing the video, Lena closed the lid then walked to the oven, "dinners ready," she called, hopefully gathering the family.

"Hey, babe," Stef greeted, placing the salad she'd prepared earlier on the table. Lena's tense smile made her pause, "you ok?" She asked, placing a hand on Lena's back.

"Yeah," Lena nodded, her focus on the chicken.

Jesus walked into the kitchen, "smells good, Moms," he complimented. Unplugging the headphones from his phone, he placed it in a bowl. Grabbing plates he began to set the table.

"Need any help?" Callie asked.

"We're good," Lena answered.

Jesus interrupted, "yeah, grab the bowls."

"Please?" Callie rolled her eyes.

"Thanks," he grinned. "Please, will you grab the bowls," Jesus rephrased, picking up napkins to fold.

"I'll do drinks," Jude offered.

Turning to set the chicken on the table, Lena took a deep breath forcing herself to relax. Watching Jesus her mind traveled back to his Little League All-Star team. They certainly didn't make it to Williamsburg, PA, but the summer was a real turning point for her and Stef. The twins became a part of their heart, and subsequently a legal part of their family.

"Earth to Mama," Marianna waved her hand in front of Lena.

Giving her daughter a Look, Lena glanced around. Everyone was seated. "We're ready," she smiled, taking a seat.

"One more paper and half a day of school before Christmas break," Marianna said happily. "Then we can sleep in or stay up. Curfew is like weekend on breaks, right Moms?"

"Don't push it," Stef joked, pointing her fork at Marianna.

Jude, ever the peacemaker jumped in, "what's your paper about?"

"Equality vs equity," she shrugged. "I worked on it all weekend. Thought it would be a simple essay like all the others, but it's more complicated than it sounds."

Brandon looked up, "what do you mean?"

"OK, so equality is like the ideal or goal while equity is kind of the work that can achieve the goal. Take Mom for instance. I assume to join the police force officers have to achieve a standard of fitness, right? But for her to have to do the same number of push-ups as say, Mike would be unfair. Yet, she can't be a bum-," she explained.

Jesus jumped in, "Mom is not a bum. She can do as many pull-ups as I can."

"You're fifteen," Callie points out.

"And my favorite child right now. We do have different times and reps for our requirements," Stef interjects.

Marianna nods, "that's what I mean. Here, in California, there is a lot of talk about abolishing Affirmative Action. It's not really coming from the Community Colleges or majority of the people. There's a call from Berkley, Stanford-"

"Actually, there was a Supreme Court case on it very recently. Fisher v. University of Texas. You should check it out. Not that our Justice system really understands the nature of what is required to achieve equality, but yeah, check it out," Lena takes a bite of chicken.

Jude looked at her, "what do you mean? They make the laws, right?" He turned to Callie who nodded, "it's their job."

"It is their job," Lena agreed, "But, the trickle down who must enforce those laws. When you get sick or something, we take you to the clinic, right?" Her focus shifted to the whole table, "we don't and wouldn't call the Surgeon General. You'd never get better. We trust that Dr. Lewis or whoever has the knowledge and ability to treat you. The problem with waiting patiently for laws to be ruled on by the federal courts is the communities affected and people governed by these laws, continue to suffer-even die-because they're unequally enforced. I mean why does a white man in Waller, Texas charged with DUI get say $1,000 bail while a Black woman have a $5,000 bond for a traffic violation?" Met with silence and confused looks, Lena shook her head, "that's not a rhetorical question. It's a real life situation that had deadly consequences for a young woman, Sandra Bland."

"We read about her in Current Events. She was arrested for what, like not using a signal?" Callie asked, her voice holding a bit of unbelief. "Then they said she committed suicide, but it was really suspicious, right?"

Brandon continued, "that's right. The police officer was really rough with her or something. He threatened her with a Taser."

"Why?" Jesus asked.

"She didn't want to get out of the car, I think. I don't exactly remember. She was in Texas, right, Mama?" Brandon looked to Lena.

"Waller, Texas," she repeated.

"But why did she have to get out of the car and end up going to jail if all she did was fail to use a signal?" Jude questioned.

Callie shrugged, "he said she was being disrespectful or something like-"

"Because she was a Black woman," Marianna answered softly. "A Black woman in Texas. Right, Mom?" She looked up at Stef.

Slowly chewing the food in her mouth, Stef put down her fork, "I don't know, Marianna. I'm not the arresting officer-"

"Stef, that's the very definition of a cop out," Lena interrupted. "Answer our daughter's question, Babe," she challenged.

After a deep breath, Stef looked at Marianna, "look, we all know and are becoming more aware police have-"

"A difficult job," Callie interrupted this time. "We know."

"OK," Stef gestured, "Marianna, the answer to your question is most likely, yes. The young lady was probably stopped because she is Black. The male patrol officer probably didn't appreciate being challenged by a woman. So, yes, her interaction with police probably began because of who she was rather than what she did or did not do." She looked at Lena with raised eyebrows.

"He didn't kill her, though," Brandon pointed out. "She died a few days after her arrest in jail."

"Sounds like she shouldn't have been in there in the first place," Jesus observed reaching for his water. "I wonder why she committed suicide, though. If she'd already been there a few days-"

"She didn't commit suicide," Lena said at the exact same time Callie interrupted, "you've never been in jail, Jesus." The mother and daughter both stopped, looking at the other. Lena nodded for Callie to continue. "Being locked up isn't like the movies. In juvie we were really only restricted to our 'rooms'," she air quoted, "at night. But to hear the doors lock, it's, I don't know," she trailed off. "Plus, you guys never really been cuffed or arrested? It's a lot different from having your parents' buddies put handcuffs on you," she added glancing at Brandon who was suddenly really interested in his chicken.

A brief quiet fell over the table. Marianna and Jesus thinking about the violence of their mother being arrested many times in front of them. Jude's thoughts were on Callie's words. They took him back to the time of their first separation, Callie's first arrest.

"The truth is, we can't judge the actions of a police officer," Stef offered. "We have to have rule of law to have a safe society."

"A grand jury judged at least the actions of the county jail staff to be justified," Lena countered. "Put in that situation, what would you have done, Stef?"

"Lena, I'm not answering that," Stef's voice held an edge.

Marianna looked at her Mom, "why not? That's the very argument I'm stuck on with this paper. How can neighborhoods with less resources be policed with the same mindset as say ours? Like who is the safe society for?"

"It's supposed to be for everyone," Jude allowed. "Right, Mama?" Lena nodded. "But it's not. Look at what happened when Callie had to go to hearings for Liam," he pointed out quietly.

After watching Callie's cheeks color, Lena spoke, "the reality of America, across the board, really is race determines many interactions with law enforcement. Then wealth and/or privilege has a lot to do with how the justice system works. Brandon is less likely to be stopped or arrested than Jesus. We can't pretend it's an equal society." She raised a hand to stop her wife from interrupting, "but at the moment, it is what we have. I believe," Lena stopped, "I have to believe it will and is changing. I've been watching these videos Sandra Bland made, Sandy Speaks. All things equal she should and certainly would be making history instead of being a lesson in Current Events. The, I guess, anger," she tried to search for the right word, "yeah, anger I feel, and the country is expressing now isn't directed at you, Officer Adams-Foster or necessarily police officers in general," her voice softening as she gave Stef a sad smile. "Couple that with the seemingly needless deaths, many now caught on video. Outrage is expected. A group of people are in pain. I know you, Stef, know you see that. The question, a rhetorical one," Lena clarified, "do your fellow officers?"

Stef sat at the table. The kids had finished and cleared their plates. Marianna requested Lena look over her paper so Stef was alone for about ten minutes, thinking on the dinner conversation. This had been a consistent perhaps quieter conversation between she and Lena for 14 months now. Tonight, Lena seemed different. Angrier even. Stef heard of Sandra Bland, but Lena's passion for the young lady made her more curious. Stef knew she couldn't have Lena's life experience. The harassment by law enforcement Lena shared made Stef sick. However, she had no excuse or defense for not learning more. Picking the laptop off of the counter, Stef opened the lid and a browser. Youtube popped up, a video seemingly paused. Putting on her glasses, Stef realized this was a Sandy Speaks video, most likely what Lena had been talking about. She pushed play.

"-who bought the allegations up about whatever-zoning, districts maps. Y'all, that is crap. That is absolute crap. You all did two separate investigations back when this first came up, and the Little League itself assured us that that team had done nothing wrong. So now, why is it, in February all of a sudden this new information has come up. That is required, that required you all to take that trophy from them. That's crap. That's BS. That is total BS. But on the flip side of that, all you people out there sending that Coach death threats, that is pure ignorance on itself, too. You are doing too much. Stop it. What are you showing the kids that you would kill over a Little League baseball? No. Then you are just as ignorant as them. All we can do now is just support them kids, support those young Princes and let them know, great job. Although, they might have took that trophy, they could never take away those things you experienced. The things that some of us will never get the chance to do. So, we applaud you for that. We need to step up now and let them know, we are not going to stand by idly and let this go on. That Jackie Robinson West situation, it does not need to get just swept up under the rug because-"

Stef looked up as she felt Lena's chin on one shoulder and hand on another. She took the hand, turning back to the video.

"-and February. What new evidence was bought up that required their title to be taken. What was it? Or is the better question, how much money was offered this time? These same little kids have to walk five, ten blocks to school sometimes because there's not adequate bussing system to get this to school. Ya know, so if they just playin', playin' a game what is the big deal? And also how hypocritical are we being the Cheatriots, New England, pro. On a professional level you got these men making millions of dollars. They cheated! We knew they cheated and what did they get? The Lambo trophy, the MVP award, and big 'ole dumb endorsement and bonus checks. So, what are we showing kids? If you can cheat on a professional level and get paid for it but as a child where nothing is under your control: we'll strip your title away. You young men, you Princes, Sandy is letting you know you are still great. What you did was awesome. None of us can ever take that away from you. We are proud of you all. Every last one of y'all. And every young man out there that wants to be on the next Jackie West Robinson team or just-y'all, we have to get out here and motivate our kids. They are our future and they are what's important. So, we gotta go to work y'all. We gotta stop playin'. We have to take care of these kids and it's not just-uh hear me clear. It's not just about strippin' the title that bothers me, it is the way that that was done. And so if it bothered you just like it bothered me, we need to voice our opinion and say something. Sandy's speakin' what about you? Have a good day."

The video stopped. This was an articulate, inspired young woman, Stef could easily recognize that. Leaning her head back onto Lena's chest, Stef closed her eyes, "the whole damn system is guilty as hell, Babe."

Italicized words are by Sandra Bland. She was murdered by Brian Encinia. Ms. Bland died on July 13, 2015, most likely suffering a subdural brain bleed caused when Encinia slammed her to the ground as he took her into custody on July 10, 2015. These aren't immediately fatal and can spontaneously reabsorb post mortem. Her autopsy shows no petechiae small hemorrhage in eyes/skin, hyoid bone intact, no bruising in the neck. These findings prove there was no possible way Ms. Bland hung herself. YouTube videos of 'Sandy Speaks' are powerful. A website sandystillspeaks contains these videos, too. The A/N prior deleted the link. Her life matters. Her murder and the injustices still being perpetrated by Texas officials matter. I know The Fosters is television, and fanfiction is fiction. Right now, even in this season, fluff doesn't feel right. Sandra Bland's family will celebrate without her. #SayHerName