This Short Film About A Philly Sports Team’s Protest Reminds Us to Say Sonya Massey’s Name

In the fall of 2020, as the world grappled with a pandemic and the streets erupted in protest following the murder of George Floyd, I found myself behind the camera. The short film “Just Love Stories: Eyekonz” wasn’t just another project; it was a testament to the strength of our community, youth empowerment and the power of love in action that still resonates powerfully today.

Picture this: A group of young Black girls, members of the Eyekonz Field Hockey and Lacrosse team, eager to join the fight for justice but held back by fears for their safety. It’s a scene that could’ve ended in frustration and helplessness. But that’s not how this story goes.

Enter Coach Jazmine Smith. Instead of shutting down the girls’ passion, she channeled it. She taught them to organize their own protest, to form a legal coalition, to write policy reform, and to march for the lives of Black women and girls. In a world that often silences young voices, especially those of young Black women, Coach Smith amplified them.

On this, the first day of the Paris Olympics, and in the wake of this week’s amplified awareness around the death of Sonya Massey, I am reminded of this team of young Black girls, ranging in age from 5 to 19, and their activism for Black Women and Girls.

This film shows us what love looks like when it’s put into action in the midst of turmoil and uncertainty. It’s not just warm feelings and kind words. It’s empowerment. It’s education. It’s standing up and speaking out, even when your voice shakes.

As I write this, my heart is heavy with the news of the murder of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman killed in her Illinois home on July 6th, 2024. Her death is a stark reminder that the fight these young girls were preparing for in 2020 is far from over. It’s a painful truth that makes the message of “Just Love Stories: Eyekonz” more relevant than ever.

But here’s the thing about love – real, active, community-changing love. It doesn’t back down in the face of continued injustice. It doesn’t throw up its hands and say, “What’s the point?” Love now means we keep going. We keep teaching our young people to use their voices. We keep showing up for each other. We keep demanding change.

The girls of Eyekonz didn’t just learn about protest and policy; they learned that their lives and voices matter, and that they have the power to create change. They learned that love for their community means standing up for it, even when it’s scary or uncomfortable.

As we mourn Sonya Massey and too many others, let’s take a page from these young warriors’ playbook. Let’s channel our anger and our grief into action. Let’s teach our children not just to dream of a better world, but to build it. Let’s show them what love looks like when it’s not just a feeling, but a force for change.

“Just Love Stories: Eyekonz” isn’t just a film. It’s a call to action. It’s a reminder that love now means doing the work, having the hard conversations, and never, ever giving up on the fight for justice. These girls showed us how it’s done. Now it’s our turn to follow their lead.

To every young person out there feeling helpless or afraid in the face of injustice, remember the Eyekonz girls. Remember that your voice matters. Remember that you have the power to make change. And remember that love – real, active, community-changing love – is the most powerful tool we have.

Let’s use it. Let’s love now, fiercely and without apology. Our lives, our communities, and our future depend on it.