Imani has a question: she wants to know if there are certain qualities or patterns that you have noticed in our families across the generations.
As I thought about Imani’s question I thought about the many things our ancestors did and that we do to this day. We’ve preached, taught healed and organized. We’ve organized churches, hospitals, GED programs and freedom schools. We’ve published newspapers, marched, voted and run for office. We’ve written, sung, danced and played music. We’ve cooked collard greens, cornbread, fried chicken, tamales and ropa vieja for ourselves,our families, and our friends. We’ve farmed and gardened family and community gardens.
Since our ancestors left slavery behind, every place we’ve lived we’ve worked to make life better for our families and our community. And that’s what makes us, us. We’re not just out for ourselves, we work for all of us.
“ We’re not just out for ourselves, we work for all of us.”
We’re really not [just out for ourselves] and we really do [work for all of us]
Even when we’re bone tired.
Even if we’re unappreciated.
Even when nobody notices
and if no one thanks us.
Status is a group endeavor, whether the group realizes it or not.
The group is our salvation.
Well said Jilo. Well said.
Creating and bettering community is very important.
“Success is being able to complete what we set out to do – each individual action, each specific step, each desired experience whether a big project or a very small errand.” — Susan Collins
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
And when you put all those completions together, it matters.
“We’re not just out for ourselves, we work for all of us.”
It’s what many of us strive for – If only this was a universal endeavour.
If only it was! What a different world we would have.