A tragedy befell the world last week. The young lives of 148 children who had futures are now lost. Just a few months prior, similar motives prompted another massacre in Paris. After the attack in France, the world united as one. You saw lawmakers, religious leaders and celebrities all locked in solidarity. In Paris, we lost 12. In Kenya, we lost 148. However, we have seen no unity marches. There are no T-shirts. There is no viral campaign. Just a few concerned humans. Where is the outrage?

I could state the obvious, and I will. There were 148 young Africans whose lives were claimed because of their faith. There were 148 young Africans who were striving to get an education to better their lives as well as their communities. There were 148 young Africans who had their entire lives ahead of them. Al-Shabab marched onto their campus and called for them to declare the creator they served. When their declaration did not agree with that of their captors, they were shot down in cold blood. They were executed as if they were subhuman. They were given no chance at life and no chance at dignity. However, there were no risings of nations. There was no outpour for justice. We weren’t even alerted immediately through major news stations. It was a tragedy that was not expressed in the hearts of millions.

I find it fairly disheartening that these black lives are being marginalized even in death. The ultimate price they paid was simply not enough to warrant a stroke of humanity from the world. We still do not even know all the details of this horrific event. I am extremely bothered at the lack of caring about this event. With the flooding of timelines with all things entertainment and basketball, we did not even pause to collectively mourn the loss.

Are people interested in knowing what happened? Have we fallen victim to the imagery normally displayed on our televisions about the Motherland that we are convinced that people of different countries in Africa are simply accustomed to such violence? I don’t have the answer to this question.

What I do know is that we cannot survive as humans if we continue to not recognize the humanity in those around us. That includes people across the world whether they look like you or believe what you believe. This issue speaks to the root of the problems we are having with difference here in our own country. Will we have to continue to separate and fend for ourselves? Can we grow as humans?

Personally, I doubt our ability to be more. I hope I am proven wrong. Continue to challenge yourselves and each other.