6 MONTHS AGO

I was sleep.
I mean, in a comma. Completely. But the crazy thing is, I didn’t even realize.
I was going through the motions.
Smart, but not really learning.
Aware, but not really conscious.
Black, but not really, well....BLACK.
And then I began my process of awakening, and it hasn’t stopped since, and if I’m blessed, it never will.
I say all this to say, America blinded me.
I mean I learned about “black history,” knew in depth about the Civil Rights Movement, and was familiar with the term Social Justice, but I look back and laugh and smile on how far I’ve come.
How much I’ve learned OUTSIDE of the classroom.
And the work I’ve put into making a change.
Before, I would never call myself an activist.
I wasn’t on the front line, wasn’t being arrested, wasn’t holding late night, secret meetings. There was no bounty on my head. No one knew my name besides the people at my school.
So I thought, “How could I be an activist? How can I compare myself to these people out here doing magnificent movement work?”
And I realized I can’t. That’s not my life. That’s not me.
But I am an activist. In my school, my organizations, relationships, community, family, and home
In this world, I make a difference. And I fight for justice.
This is my come to Jesus meeting, for myself.
I am realizing the power I hold and the power we hold as a people.
Now stress over the past 6 months has been out the wazu ridiculous, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
To see people learn our history. To witness institutions changing policies. To watch my brothers and sisters unite. To be dead tired at the end of the day, but can’t wait till the morning to start all over again. To have passion burning inside of me. To be change.
To hear the words, “I appreciate your work.”
“I want to be like you when I grow up.”
“You are the most empowering woman I know.”
That is power, and strength, and beauty, and awareness, and faith, and hard work, and change, and...ACTION.
And I am an Activist.
And I am learning, and I am making mistakes.
But I am growing more rapidly than I ever imagined,
And I couldn’t be more grateful.