"Your role in putting this nation finally on the road to self redemption is to purge yourselves, to clean up your act. You must develop the habit of scepticism, not swallow every piece of superstition you are told... the revolution must be clear-eyed"
-IKEM in Anthills of the Savannah
1. TAKE CARE- by good sister Amanda Morris
This quarantine is the first time in my entire life that I haven’t had to or felt the need to be in “go mode” 24/7 and I took advantage of that. With the current uprising happening, as black people fight against the years of injustices they have faced, now is the perfect time to build on these new habits of self care. We have to pour into ourselves and make sure that we are well before we can pour into our community.
Self care looks different for all of us, for me it has been looking alot like: watching old Jamaican plays on youtube, nurturing my newly potted plants/observing their growth, taking long walks without my cellphone and slowing down.
Slowing down has introduced me to a part of myself that I wasn’t familiar with before and I love her. I am still learning and figuring things out as the days go on but this journey has truly been enlightening. Self care isn’t something we should only prioritize when things are hard it should be something we include in our lives daily not matter what the global climate is. So please, as you use this time to build on your self care practices always remember them--don’t lose them.
Our ancestors fought long and hard for us to be able to practice self care. We honor them when we take time to simply, take care.
Blessings,
-----------------
Amanda Morris
Howard University, Acting, B.F.A.
Website: Here
"One one cocoa, full basket" Success does not come overnight.
2. Dear Fellow Black people, Don't judge me.
Yours Truly, Anonymous Black sister.
Canada has been my home since I was seven. I identify as a Nigerian- Canadian female, quite honestly, I am still figuring out what that means. I know very little about my Nigerian side and this current movement, through necessary, has made me realize I know very little about the Canadian history.
Even though my skin is quite noticeable Black, I've never experienced any form of racism in Canada, at least that's what I told myself. The BLM movement has made me do some serious reflecting and this is when I noticed that I have indeed been discriminated against due to my race, more than a few times. I never realized because whenever these types situations would occur, I would just unconsciously suppress the memory later on. I suppose this was just my way of coping, it's very unhealthy and I'm going to have to work on it, I digress. What I'm trying to say is I didn't realize racism exited in the Canadian society until quite recently. I also never knew about the destruction of Africville, or that Canada participated in the slave trade.
I feel that because of my skin people expect me to be an expert in every aspect of the Black community and act as a teacher to others. If you are unable to fulfill this duty then you are meant with disappointment. However, not all people of color know everything about their culture and I am one of them. In the same way people of the White race are learning, some people of the Black race are learning as well. I am mainly speaking on my behalf here, but please stop expecting all Black people to be educate you on our struggles, or how messed up our society truly is. Though I have happy to share some of what I have learned, I asked that you also take it upon yourself to educate yourself.
To those who are in the same boat as me, know that you are not at fault for not knowing so try not to feel guilty. Let us use this opportunity to educate ourselves and continue to fight for equality, by signing petitions, donating, attending protests etc.
3. Dear Allies... by an Aunty- Vanessa Chambers
DEAR NEW FOUND ALLIES! Pull up a chair we need to talk.
You have reached level one of realizing the injustices towards black people. I'm sorry to inform you there is no medal. Not for this or the next thing you say or do. I'm not gonna go into telling you to donate or protest or speak up cause if you don't know that yet you are yet to pass level one. What I will address is once an ally always an ally. Don't wait till the cops murder another black soul for you to speak up again. Oppression doesn't only result in death. It's systematic. Policing is one aspect, there is education, incarceration, health and safety, housing, voter rights, the suppression of historic facts, generational trauma etc. Take the time to EDUCATE YOURSELF on it all.
-Watch how you talk to black kids
-Watch how you address black skin/bodies
-Watch how you describe black hair
-Watch how you address how black people express themselves (aka don't call us angry and aggressive)
-Watch how you profit from our culture
-Watch how you address us when we aren't in the room.
Are we included in your conversations about sustainability, climate change, feminism?.
If you really are gonna be an ally, challenge your privilege on all fronts. And I've said this before and will continue to say it. We don't need pity. We don't need you to speak for us just listen and amplify our sentiments.
Black lives have always mattered to us and will always matter to us, it's full time they matter to you.
TO ALL:
And i would say that people need to know this is not a trend. This is simply drawing the line in the sand to identify who will be on the right side of history. History is being written as we speak. This movement will be something our children and grandchildren will learn about so just make sure that when they ask what you did, you can say you fought for whats right and didn't stop fighting.
That's all folks. Thank you so much, if you've reached this far. I appreciate you.
Thanks for stopping by.
Never stop Curating your best life.
-Y.E.N
Comments