Special Series
The Space between Life, Death and Opportunity: When I Was 16
On April 20, 2021, Ma’Khia Bryant was killed by a police officer outside of the foster home she was living in. For many Black people who have experienced the foster care system, bearing witness to Ma’Khia’s violent death as the officer’s body camera footage spread on social media has been excruciating.
This is a series of essays and poetry reflecting on the death of a Black teenager with a bright future ahead of her, and what it says to the authors about the current state of the child welfare system for Black parents and children.