We get more compassionate as we evolve. More humble. More subtle. More aware of how little we know. We don’t get superior. We don’t form cults of personality. We don’t think we have it all worked out. If we imagine ourselves ‘all that’, then we have actually devolved. I trust the ones who know a little something but don’t know a whole lot, more than the ones who ‘know it all’. I trust the ones who realeyes how far they have yet to travel. We have so much more to learn. All of us. Lets walk together, side by side. ~ JEFF BROWN this is a reminder for myself, as I meditated, quietly sat in my heart, as much has been unfolding this past months. and the threat is always there; the threat of sliding into a cult of who is right as opposed to what is right, of personalizing the impersonal impulse for love as justice, of inflating as praise come and deflating as calumny and criticism follow, of amassing memories of victory, of anger at inequitable micro-interaction dynamics, of losing oneself in the spotlight and effervescence of a gathering, and of feeling repulsed and slighted at opportunistic maneuvers. in short, the threat is always there to slide into the deep end of what Eckhart Tolle calls the pain body of the ego. much has unfolded in so little time, and most are linked to equity organizing, teaching, spirituality, and relationships. from teaching a six year old why the term nigger is not a good word for him and others to use, sitting on committees, giving lectures/presentations and joining discussion groups, learning how to withdraw from unfriendly presences, reaching out to certain persons and mending grievances, being meticulous and intuitive about the course syllabus i am creating, taking small steps towards relationship-commitment, learning the ropes of bureaucracy and politics, daring to see patterns in me that are to be transformed, working on my spiritual development, and etc. yesterday, i helped execute a peaceful march planned in just a week and a half by a core of 5, yet a group of up to 10. it was successful, moving, and needed. many media outlets were present, and the news articles on the event black, brown, and red lives matter: Hamilton peaceful protest by and large reflect the spirit of community rebuilding and well-being, and the social justice vision that we brought to the planning and executing. not everyone was happy with the framework; few wanting us to have been more hard with our language (i.e.: the police are colonial, capitalist pigs), and most of the not-too-happy camp wanting us to erase the unique history of the struggle of racial minorities (i.e.: how about [insert multitude of other marginalized identities here]?). i have tried responding to these genuine concerns and truths, and can only hope we can agree that a multi-pronged approach is necessary to tackle the pervasiveness and complexity of what we face. with the sad news of the deportation of Farai from Hamilton to Zimbabwe, an event sparked by a cycle of racial profiling and its impact, i would like to see us show our support to Rachael E-dge and Jennifer Hompoth of NGEN. please stay tuned in what is to come. i salute the co-organizers of black, brown, red lives matter: Kayonne Christy, Kermeisha Williams, Halima Hatimy, and Leo Nupolu Johnson. and a hat tip to all who attended. some of my favorite pictures of the event are attached. if anyone has any nice pictures, please send them to me.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 07:05:19 +0000
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