A Black Woman's Rant
I write, live, and breathe for love.
I pray, meditate, and sing for love.
And, at the end of the day, I still want to slap the shit out of somebody!
I believe in the words of Dr Martin Luther King, “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”
After 400 years of slavery and oppression in this country, my soul grieves! I grieve for the survivors, families, and victims of crimes against people of color. I grieve for all of the lives that have been stolen. I grieve for all of humanity lost in the dis-ease and legacy of hatred and violence that have passed through generations. I grieve for the minds that are lost because of the mental chains of abuse that still linger.
I am a human Being! On a super high energy day, I feel invincible knowing that within the palm of my hands and the power of my mind there is unlimited potential to heal, to create the life that I desire, and to make a positive impact in the world. On a good day, regardless of my circumstances, I feel empowered and aligned with thoughts that I am one with the presence of God. On these days I see choices, opportunities, hope, and awaken with new possibilities. On a bad day, I may feel disheveled and tired knowing that I have some how steered off course. And on my worst day, I may feel deep sadness, hopelessness, despair, or anger. I am human!
Regardless of one's background of origin, being human is a multifaceted experience. I can attest that being a woman of color in this country is also an exhausting one! One that requires a consistent and diligent eye of mindfulness to dismantle the negative self talk that society feeds us to undermine my spirit of resiliency.
I pay homage to our ancestors who have carried me on their backs through this journey and I honor each of us who are working to be the best version of ourselves as we choose to rise above the hypocrisy. I see you! I hear you! I am you!
Every step we take begets another step. If you want to get involved take a step!
If that step starts with a rant- rant!
If that rant takes you to your social network-rant then step!
If that rant takes you to joining new groups-rant then step!
If that rant takes you to asking questions, question everything- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to signing a petition-rant then step!
If that rant takes you writing a letter to a politician in your area- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to a rally or a vigil-rant then step!
If that rant takes you to a protest-rant then step!
If that rant takes you to knocking on doors to register people to vote- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to being arrested for standing up to what you believe in- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to reading books that inspire you- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to going back to school to re-educate yourself and others- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to becoming a leader in your community- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to organizing a boycott- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to the White House- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to rediscover how powerful you are- rant then step! And,
If that rant takes you to reaffirm a belief in yourself, reaffirm your importance in the world, reaffirms that your voice and your life matters, by all means, rant then take a step!
Love is not a sprint! Take a step! With every step, a piece of humanity is restored.
After 400 years of slavery and oppression in this country, my soul grieves! I grieve for the survivors, families, and victims of crimes against people of color. I grieve for all of the lives that have been stolen. I grieve for all of humanity lost in the dis-ease and legacy of hatred and violence that have passed through generations. I grieve for the minds that are lost because of the mental chains of abuse that still linger.
I am a human Being! On a super high energy day, I feel invincible knowing that within the palm of my hands and the power of my mind there is unlimited potential to heal, to create the life that I desire, and to make a positive impact in the world. On a good day, regardless of my circumstances, I feel empowered and aligned with thoughts that I am one with the presence of God. On these days I see choices, opportunities, hope, and awaken with new possibilities. On a bad day, I may feel disheveled and tired knowing that I have some how steered off course. And on my worst day, I may feel deep sadness, hopelessness, despair, or anger. I am human!
Regardless of one's background of origin, being human is a multifaceted experience. I can attest that being a woman of color in this country is also an exhausting one! One that requires a consistent and diligent eye of mindfulness to dismantle the negative self talk that society feeds us to undermine my spirit of resiliency.
I pay homage to our ancestors who have carried me on their backs through this journey and I honor each of us who are working to be the best version of ourselves as we choose to rise above the hypocrisy. I see you! I hear you! I am you!
I am on a Rant!
As an agent of love, I offer you rant then step:Every step we take begets another step. If you want to get involved take a step!
If that step starts with a rant- rant!
If that rant takes you to your social network-rant then step!
If that rant takes you to joining new groups-rant then step!
If that rant takes you to asking questions, question everything- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to signing a petition-rant then step!
If that rant takes you writing a letter to a politician in your area- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to a rally or a vigil-rant then step!
If that rant takes you to a protest-rant then step!
If that rant takes you to knocking on doors to register people to vote- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to being arrested for standing up to what you believe in- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to reading books that inspire you- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to going back to school to re-educate yourself and others- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to becoming a leader in your community- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to organizing a boycott- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to the White House- rant then step!
If that rant takes you to rediscover how powerful you are- rant then step! And,
If that rant takes you to reaffirm a belief in yourself, reaffirm your importance in the world, reaffirms that your voice and your life matters, by all means, rant then take a step!
Love is not a sprint! Take a step! With every step, a piece of humanity is restored.
I am on a Rant!
To all of my brothers and sisters:“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
Australian Aboriginal Elder Lilla Watson
You are important!
Your voice matters!
Your life matters!
You are love!
You are loved!
Holding Space...
With Love,
Shawn
With Love,
Shawn
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Vigil for Justice following the death of Trayvon Martin 7-21-2013
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