X equals the man with the M1 Carbine peeking through the curtains and through our souls

X equals the strength of a thousand whispers gaining volume and power

X equals the chickens all coming home to roost after a long day in Dallas

X equals the last stop on the drive from Omaha to Boston to Dearborn to Harlem and north to Washington Heights where that treacherous gunman had his day and his way

X equals the knowledge that the ballot is better than the bullet but that the bullet is better than nothing at all

X equals the red-headed giant praying at the Great Mosque of Mecca

X equals the times we have turned on the news and asked, “What the fuck is wrong with this nation of ours?”

X equals the silent sound of G-Men listening on the other end of the line

X equals the sum of nutmeg, reefer, and unity

X equals the undertaking of the Hajj while being fully aware that it is only required of people who are physically and financially able to do it

X equals the long index finger of Ilyasah Shabazz pointed directly at Minister Louis Farrakhan and speaking truth to power

X equals the end of COINTELPRO and the rolling over in a grave upon realizing we are again in the throes of another counter intelligence program

X equals the sudden realization that “throes” is spelled with an “E” not a “W”

X equals all of the times you laughed in the face of hatred, violence, and death because crying is just too hard

X equals the music of the shattering glass and the shards falling to impale the floorboards as we go on listening to Kate Smith, Perry Cuomo, Celine Dion, and Johnny Mercer

X equals the impalement itself

X equals the taste of peanut butter when everyone wants you to enjoy plain white bread

X equals the need to stand and fight

X equals all of those who stood and fought to make a better world

X equals Alex Padilla face down in handcuffs while democracy slowly fades away

X equals the number of civilian deaths in Palestine, Israel, Iran, Sudan, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Ypsilanti

X equals all thirty-nine years of struggle and determination

X equals the demand for freedom… by any means necessary