Two Weeks and 7 Shots Later
This week I wanted to share some Black Joy with you because melanin is thriving even in these tough times!
I am sorry for the delay. What started off as a one- week hiatus turned into nearly a month of shear disbelief. I was frozen by the emotional trauma of Jacob Blake, Chadwick Boseman's death, and the deep lack of sympathy or understanding from the 45th President and his supporters.
The narrative that has grown this year reinforces that it is a tough time to be Black in America. It is “7 shots in the back” tough. Many of you may have seen the following image floating around.
This image hits hard, but not because it is a nearly identical representation of what is happening hundreds of years later. It hits because we have said that injustice has been happening for hundreds of years and it still feels like no one hears us…
Even in all of this turmoil in our community, our people still find ways to excel and create joy. This is what I want to focus on today: The joy of being Black and the success we are experiencing right now.
Harriet is more than a legend
Some people are legends and you know their story will be told forever. Harriet Tubman was one of those people. That’s is why she is getting all the things now, hundreds of years later.
Her legacy is one only super heroes can hope to top. It is why the University of Maryland is renaming their Women’s Study building after Harriet Tubman. At first I thought this was a PR move, but the University of Maryland has quietly created an entire degree focused on a unique concentration in Black Feminist Thought and Intersectionality.
If you want more info, check it out here https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/09/06/umd-renames-womens-studies-department-to-honor-harriet-tubman/
Breonna Taylor Still Needs Justice
It has been 178 days since Breonna Taylor was killed. The police surrounding her murder have not been tried and walk free today. However, this week there is some good news. Breonna’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker is suing the police. His defense is based on the infamous Stand Your Ground laws. It feels like poetic justice that this law will be used to protect a black man from the police, when it has been used against us so many times before. Also, not really sure how I feel about this but Breonna Taylor is getting a documentary… I hope the family is getting that bag but I’m still not in love with using Black pain to create content. Hopefully the documentary pushes a larger narrative forward. Check out this interview with the director of the documentary
The Move Turns 1 Today
I didn't even realize it until i was writing this article. It is kind of crazy to see how far we have come from our original posts about events on Labor day weekend of 2019, to now writing op-eds and opinion pieces. This process has been a roller coaster of emotional highs to extreme lows. It has taught me so much and there is so much more to learn. I am extremely proud of the readers for continuing to support The Move while I found my voice and changed the format of the newsletter. It took a lot to get here, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Please keep reading and keep sharing. I love to write for y’all and will continue to do my best :)
If you want to support us directly, here is our cashapp: $TheMoveHQ or you can support some of these amazing Nashville organizations
Equity Alliance: Fighting voter suppression and helping voter registration.
Nashville Bail Fund: Help free low-income persons from jail.
Backfield In Motion: Education through mastery of literacy and numeracy skills for at-risk youth.
Thanks for all these amazing times this year!
Cheers,
Chris