Rising in Power (Part 2)

BY NAJE BADU LOVE

(…continued)

As a young girl, seeing a woman speak powerfully about the changes required of our broken society sparked something inside of me that could never be quelled. So much so that I distinctly remember asserting that had I been born earlier than the 1970s, I most certainly would have been one of the protestors, freedom riders, and marchers who fought against racism and injustice. The passion and power of Angela Davis, as well as the countless others whom I consider to be the heroes and heroines of the Civil Rights Era, men, and women who sacrificed their safety, comfort, and sometimes their lives, is the very reason I have studied racism and gender equality so fervently over the years. Ironically, throughout most of my time studying, I believed that the need for a Civil Rights Movement was no longer viable currently. It wasn’t until America’s 45th President took office that I began to recognize that racism and segregation never subsided.

Unfortunately, the Civil Rights era has boomeranged. It has returned to reveal to us the work still required of this country and the world at large. Those of us who have been “othered” consequent to being anything beyond white and male have found ourselves once again fighting for our inalienable right to life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness – and wealth, equality, health, and unimpeded self-expression. Suddenly, my awareness of injustice and inequality has been heightened. Unfortunately, what I thought I’d missed out on in the 1960s has come back to present an opportunity to take a stance for my people and humanity.  

What I am aware of now that I was not aware of back then when I was an 8-year-old little girl, who secretly celebrated the roles of Martin Luther King Jr., and Angela Davis is that I was, and still am, an introverted being with the spirit of a monk dwelling on the inside of me. Now, as an older woman, I still detest many of the injustices witnessed worldwide, especially for people of color. However, it manifested in ways that looked like something other than a protest, a march, or a speech yelled through a megaphone. I realize I was not gifted with the same courage, enthusiasm, and commitment to action that it took for the people to march, protest, and participate in sit-ins - back then or even today. I realize that God has blessed me with an entirely different way to stand: through my pen - as an artist, an author, a producer, and a philanthropist. 

Freedom. Liberty. Passion. Happiness. All terms that were expressed in abundance throughout the Eyes on the Prize. They are words that define the very gifts that we as human beings inherit at birth yet are unable to experience consequent of oppressive systems built by fully people who believe they are superior to other groups of people. What I find interesting about the term oppression is that seems to both haunt me and propel me to use my talents to do something that radically contributes to the abolition of inequality, injustice, and unfair incarceration of people of color and women. The term oppression rang loudly in my little 8-year-old ears during the 70s and resonates in my spirit today. Oppression, a powerful term that has been expressed as the justifiable reason for revolutions that have taken place throughout history. Now that I am older, wiser, and have a better understanding of the unjust systems, institutions, policies, and laws that orchestrate what certain people can and cannot do as individuals, as communities, and as citizens (especially people of color and women), I am more committed than ever to using my voice, my art, and my writing to be the change and healing I desire to see in this world before I die.  

What triggered me to make such a commitment? After having a recent epiphany, something dawned on me that has yet to leave my consciousness: as much as I aspire to rise above the limitation and oppression pressed upon us as humans in areas of race, gender, class, and education; I must also endeavor a quest to heal some of the self-imposed oppression I have subscribed to throughout most of my life. Yes, perhaps much of it is due to being brainwashed to believe, think, and behave in ways that society has deemed “right” for me as a woman of color. And then, some of it results from believing what others have said was impossible for me. You see, what I know today is that I have spent the more significant part of my life in ways that were inauthentic to who I am on the inside - a youthful, ethnically proud, gifted, and intelligent woman. There have been many moments along my journey where I lacked the courage to carry out the vision for the life of which I have been divinely and uniquely blessed. Why? For fear of being judged and perceived as not Black enough, too Black, militant, awkward, aggressive, assertive, unlikeable, unacceptable, unworthy, and so on. 

Today, I have chosen to rise in my own life to illustrate what is possible when people choose to rise for what’s right for humanity. I have learned that the greatest form of activism is to live my life in the light and truth of love and empowerment, without apology and despite fear. This commitment presents an opportunity to change the narrative of what someone else said was or was not possible for me. It allows me to be an inspirational demonstration of courage to those I encounter who aspire to do the same, including you. Together, we can conceive of and create a life and a world that is more loving, peaceful, and uplifting. We can expand the story about what it means to be people of color, women, queer, disabled, and socioeconomically disadvantaged. We should all be in pursuit of freeing ourselves from internal prisons to show up to the “fight” whole and healed.

STAY CONNECTED: 

Naje Badu Love is the author of Let Go of Your But! A Woman’s Guide to Loving Herself to Full Potential and Possibility (purchase here). As an artist and illustrator, Naje founded Journal Up! (an organization designed to support people in their quest for true potential through journaling). to align her passion for writing, journaling and illustration as a means of connecting with and inspiring people around the globe.  You are invited to reach out to her via Facebook and LinkedIn by following the social media details below: 

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