“It is a revolutionary act to in love with our Blackness and embodying our Black power.” – An MLK message from EBASE campaign director Jahmese Myres.
Dear Friend,
Recently, I was watching a clip of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preaching about embracing who we are in a world that shames us. As we celebrate the MLK holiday and the movement for Black liberation, I am focused on the revolutionary act of being in love with my Blackness and embodying my Black power.
Whether we are Black, Brown, poor, queer, disabled, or formerly incarcerated, we are told by society that we are worthless. That low-income workers and community residents are people that don’t matter. That being oppressed is one’s own doing.
I also believe it is a revolutionary act to feel into our community power; to stand up; to organize; to speak our truths; and to declare an alternative vision ourselves.
This is the kind of vision that King fought and died for, and what we are still fighting for – and dying for – today. To have choices and self-determination. To have access to a good job that pays enough to take care of our families; to pay our bills; and to plan for our future. To have a peaceful and stable home that is affordable. And to live in a thriving community without threat of police violence.
These are the foundations for health for ourselves; for our families; and for our communities.
This Martin Luther King day and marching forward in 2016, I invite you to embrace your power, to embrace our community power, and fight for and realize the alternative vision that we know is possible.
Toward justice,
Jahmese Myres
EBASE Campaign Director