Black content creators Xmiramira, Ekugan, LibraLebron, IamBrandon, BigCheese, and MajinTaj joined ProfessorBroman’s podcast for a panel discussion with on what it’s really like for Black people in America right now. There are so many things that non-Black people take for granted—everyday things. But for Black people, especially living in the U.S., we have to be extremely self aware to, not only avoid drawing attention of the police, but also to not draw suspicion from White citizens who see our skin color and immediately think “They’re up to something. Let me call the police” or worse, take matters into their own hands, as in the case of Ahmaud Arbery.

These content creators discuss everyday life being Black, surviving, racism, allyship, and more. While the entire discussion is worth watching and listening, here are the highlights of the discussion.

Here are the highlights and key takeaways from this powerful discussion.

I encourage you to watch the entire broadcast here. But if you don’t have the time just yet here are highlights from each person on the panel.

CAUTION: Embedded Twitch clips are on auto play. We are working to fix this now.

Ekuegan

Ekuegan talks a lot about his experience being over 6ft tall and the pressures of simply being a tall Black man, worrying about whether someone will see his size and automatically assume he’s violent or about to cause trouble in some way.

Libra Lebron

Big Cheese

I Am Brandon

Majin Taj

Xmiramira

ProfessorBroman

ProfessorBroman essentially sat back and listened which I’m thankful for. Too often, people try to silence our voices, talk over us. But he gave the panel a platform and let them speak, let them get it all off their chests and then some.

One of the biggest takeaways from this panel discussion is that Black gamers feel like targets both online and offline. We play video games as a form of escapism—to have fun. But when racism is allowed to run rampant because non-Black players think racism is funny, gaming becomes stressful. So many Black content creators, myself included, will stream without their cameras because we just don’t have the energy to deal with people’s micro and macro aggression.

Another takeaway is that the Black people in America have live in a different reality than our White counterparts. Whereas White Americans believe the police to be bastions of the law—protectors of the law, Black Americans’ reality is to the contrary. Too many police are essentially overseers, abusive, and looking for a reason to exert their authority. Our parents and our grandparents, and their parents—generations—have the same experiences—experiences that should not exist in 2020, but they do.

When I was 10 years old, my mother, stepfather, baby brother, and I were traveling from North Carolina, my dad’s hometown, back to Fort Dix, NJ where both my parents were stationed in the U.S. Army. It was pouring rain. And cold. While passing through Delaware, we were tailed by a police officer and finally pulled over. One of the first things Black parents teach their kids about driving is, when you are pulled over by a police officer, always pull over by a gas station or place where there are people if possible. My dad wasn’t speeding. The car, a 1990 5.0 Mustang hatchback, brand new, no broken tail light. The police officer told my father that a car was stolen matching the description of the car. My father explained to him that he and my mother were in the military and were just passing through headed back to his post. The police officer did not believe my father or mother. He made us get out of the car and wait HOURS until my father’s First SGT drove to Delaware to verify my dad was, in fact who he said he was. My parents’ identification didn’t mean anything. Having two children with them meant nothing. We weren’t allowed to sit in the car because the officer didn’t want to risk my dad driving off. The police officer had his hand on his firearm the entire time he spoke to my father. I was ten years old. My brother was three months old. That was not my father’s first time being pulled over. It would not be the last time, nor mine.

When it comes to Black people in America, every encounter we have with police officers, like LibraLebron says, “we have to worry about dying.” Even when the police officer is cordial, it’s still at the forefront of my mind, doing my best to hold in my fear because I don’t want to end up like Sandra Bland. Police encounters for Black people in America is absolutely terrifying.