Liberation Letter: Continue

Continue

by Tevin McDaniel, Community Building Coordinator

Black History Month in the eyes of Black folks has always been centered around a significant theme: Liberation. Contradictory to this theme, I find when looking at the history taught within schools that education systems harp on the “Big Three'': the extraordinary Martin Luther King, the persistent and powerful Rosa Parks, and the relentless Harriet Tubman. But are those the only Black folks that did something historically significant? Where is Fannie Lou Hamer? Bayard Rustin? Assata Shakur? This erasure isn’t by accident as they try to take what little history is left out of schools and libraries; Black folks are left with little knowledge to absorb. Governments are banning books just because slavery is mentioned. Critical race theory has become a cuss word meant to be washed away by soap in one’s mouth, and all for the gain of who? Not me. Not a Black woman, not a Black man. As a community, recognizing that education is a catalyst for societal promotion and access is invaluable. Education can move mountains, and as they try to hinder us, our ask of you is simple: continue. Continue to be who you are, continue to ask  “hard” questions, and continue to move forward understanding that organizations, businesses, and people are still fighting for you. I am still fighting for you. Those who they will try to erase will never be blotted out from history because I know them. We know them. It is because of them that we are. But don’t forget, nor become complacent, for we are nowhere near free. So continue. I will continue–we will continue–this work during the darkest of hours and the most difficult times because as long as they continue to oppress us, we are never free. The fight for liberation continues.

Your history is rich

And that same rich is keeping you from learning it.

Your history is yours 

But they don’t want you to be you. 

Your black is beautiful 

But don’t wear your hair like that. 

At some point being a human can’t be a crime. 

Being black can’t be every sad excuse for why someone’s loved one is gone. 

Behind bars.

Struggling with drugs.

Killed. 

Yearning for equality, fighting for what is right 

We stand in unison not only in february but every day 

Every minute 

Every second 

My Black is BEAUTIFUL 

My Black has POWER

And My Black MATTERS