I guess this one is appropriate for my first blog post. We are just going to get into the meat of it. I will give y'all a writing including my story-of-self later. This is the writing where my friend finally pushed me hard enough that I accepted to start my own blog. A writing that may be fair enough to start with to explain the name I decided to title this blog as, "Social Commentary and Building a Movement."
It is a writing in response to people saying, "Good luck" or "I hope you..." when discussing organizing and movement building. So here we go:
I have multiple times been told things like "good luck," or "I
hope..." including specifically being told, "wow so you are doing a
whole lot. I hope you can accomplish what you are set out to do! Good
luck with all of that."
Don't get me wrong now; I deeply
appreciate the support and the solidarity. But there is something that
stings in my mind every single time I hear that these days. Hope? Hope
has nothing to do with it. It is about will and determination. Building a
movement has happened multiple times before. I refuse to believe or
accept that it cannot happen again. And I refuse to not be a force to
help make it happen. Though as I said, I appreciate the support. I do.
Now
to back track let's start earlier back. I have known for years now I
wanted to "change the world." I have known for years now that I refused
to not make that happen. But I have been on a journey to figure out what
that means and what it is going to take for that to happen. Thus I have
constantly taken every opportunity possible to continue to grow, learn,
and continue that path. If you asked me a few years ago if I wanted to,
and if I was going to do whatever I could, I would have said, "Yes."
Though if you asked me a few years ago, "How are you going to do that"
or "What does that mean," I would not have had an answer. But now I do.
For the first time ever the past few months, I feel like I can see it
clearly. I feel like I know what that means, that I can see both the big
picture, and I have a plan in place that I am sold on for what steps I
feel are necessary to get there. I have seen the mountaintop. And in
return, I say things now like, "I want to start a movement."
Want?
Well some of that comes from (yes as overly confident as I am) me being
modest. I have high respect for all the amazing people around me, and
all the amazing people who have come before me. So I constantly shrug
things off when other people say things about me. Though I was walking
out of my apartment on the way to work one day and I was thinking about
language. In particular why people have told me they can be drawn to
language I use. For example, growing up I used to always say, "I am
going to be a General Manager in the NBA" instead of “I want to.” I
never thought twice about it until my sister brought it up to me for the
first time. Ever since then I have begun to become more and more
cognizant of my language. So I was walking out of my apartment thinking
about the strength of the words I use. Repeating "I want to start a
movement" to myself. Proud of that wording. Then I got pissed off at
myself. Want? ... Want? Excuse me? Why am I saying “want?” What’s wrong
with me? Now, don't get me wrong, sometimes I still use the word want.
But when I do it is with a new mentality then before. Want? No, I can’t
accept that. I am. I am. WE ARE going to start a movement. Even if it's
the last of me. And hope has nothing to do with it. Luck has nothing to
do with it. Excuses will not be tolerated. Finding a way to make it work
will. Re-analyzing when things are not going as planned will.
Re-evaluating will be tolerated. Will, determination, and blood, sweat,
and tears will. I appreciate your hope and luck. But save it. I want
solidarity. But hope and luck will not be a part of my vocabulary. WE
WILL start a movement. And though I always want to challenge myself to
still grow, I am only for the first time in my life comfortable with my
knowledge and skills to say so. In much part due to the many mentors,
supporters, friends, opportunities, and experiences I have been blessed
to have.
Peace, Love, and Solidarity Forever.
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