I got a poem…"wanna hear it? Well, here it go" (LOL, throwback to all us In Livin’ Color lovers). P.S. Poem is at the end. Keep reading, I promise it is worth it!
This season finds me intentionally seeking company and space where liberation is paramount, healing is innate, and joy is co-created.
In these last few years, my internal compass has been leading down paths of deconstruction and dismantling the faulty construction of oppressive American societal norms. The great quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic laid the perfect groundwork for us all to detach from the hamster wheels of our culture. Sadly, the fear of the glorious unknown outweighed the promise of the toxic familiar. That leaves me deeply troubled to this day.
It is disheartening when the world rushes back into fire and all but condemns opposing viewpoints like mine that point out hypocrisy and toxic mindframes. I have to be honest; I withdrew in many ways as social media emboldened ignorance, amplified misinformation, and accelerated a thirst for clout and attention. False connections and fake personas are celebrated as authenticity is mocked. I decided I am over it!
Still, I have come to realize it is my duty to move forward; to use my gifts, my voice, and my life as a living testament to inspire others to resist this faulty constructed system that oppresses us.
In these times, we absolutely must steal away as our ancestors did when they plotted their rebellion against enslavement. We must use our coded language; quilts, food, worship services, education, and yes, even our music for subversive resistance…and healing.
The revolution will be televised…the ORGANIZING should not!
Please heed this message. I know it is hard to do, but disentangle yourself from social networks owned and operated by soulless oligarchs who pirate your information, use your data for counter-intelligence, and fuel their power base.
Create offline. Organize offline. Gather and fellowship offline. Let's reclaim our spaces and our power.
I have more to share, but for now, I invite you to come hang with me and a group of Black women as we gather in a soul circle while supporting two Black women-owned businesses.
Meet us this Sunday, February 2nd at Pen and Paper, located at 6900 S. Stony Island in Chicago. Let me know if I’ll see you there!
Until next time, Steal away…and move beyond the block!
Poetry will save us.
As will a writers sword soothe afraid hearts.
Creatives weave to blanket and smother evil ploys.
Our words are a spell. No toys. WE ARE NOT PLAYIN'
Magical we BE...and not like no superhuman.
Nah. Black Magic.
Potions from the Gods.
Come down like Moses.
It is written.
Read children!
Steal away from these digital slave castles.
Gather all your recipes and all your stuff from these corporate plantations.
Follow the North Star pointing towards self.
Do for self!
Run now from this burning house that Martin feared he led us to.
Encrypt and switch back to the codes.
Put it in pages banned yet tucked in our sacred space.
Create space...and covenants.
Abide by the tenets and principles of Nguzo Saba...
even when it ain't Kwanzaa.
Get yourself together.
Get together!
In unplugged cyphers and listen to the words.
Heed this message.
Freedom has a toll road.
It is time to pay the costs and put another down payment on to the deposits of sacrificial blood paid by the ancestors.
It is your turn.
What you got on our freedom?
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