In eighth grade, I had to complete a social studies project in order to graduate. Our topic was the Civil Rights Movement (that was something I was always very interested in and wanted to just learn more about) and my topic was specifically the three presidents: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
From then on, I knew I wanted to get involved and speak my mind. High school began and I was this girl who had so much to say about what was going on in the world but had no idea how to say it or put it out there. I was so scared to speak up and say whatever I felt was right. I ended up joining a club called Class of Consciousness, joined an organization called The Brotherhood/ Sister Sol. (I'll speak about these things that have impacted me later in the future.) Being an activist is a lot, it is more than just talking about the work, you literally have to sit there and do the work.
I participated in my very first march on January 2017 which was The Women's March. I was one of the people who was walking with a bullhorn starting chants. One of them included one of my favorites, "Ain't no power like the power of the people cause the power of the people don't STOP! SAY WHAT?" And I was moved from that one march. I knew that for the years to come in my life, I wanted to continue to participate in marches, to fight for what I believe in. To allow myself to feel the way I feel about things. Two months later I participated in the Education March, and during this march I saw so many parents from the elementary school in my high school building. It was so crazy to see what was going on and not being told at my high school what was happening and finding out of school.
I attended the Free Minds Free People Conference in Baltimore, Maryland last summer. It was such a dope experience to be able to meet people the same age as me, older, younger doing the same work. Meeting people who believe in the same things. It was such an amazing experience. I have done other things but just can't seem to remember much of it right now. A couple of months ago I participated in a webinar about Civic Preparation for Teachers College of Columbia University. Which was another dope experience for me, because I never saw myself doing something quite like that. Like I said before it is more than just talking about the work, YOU are apart of the work, YOU are doing the work.
Being activist there is so much you carry on your shoulders, there's so much constantly being thrown at you. Something happens every single day and sometimes you cannot handle it. (I cannot handle certain videos on the media, it literally gives me anxiety and makes me cry really hard.) For me, one of the craziest things ever is that the elders in my family have absolutely no clue about the work I do. Not even my mom, and I have been doing this work for quite sometime now. I will tell her eventually but for now, I'll allow her to wonder what is it that I do. I always get asked why do I do what I do? And it is hard to answer because that is something I really want to sit there and answer properly but the truth is, everything is just so fucked up in this country and A LOT of people fail to see that or have NO idea of what is going on.
I believe in change, I believe our generation can change things for the better and it will happen. Justice will be served. I believe that things can and will get better. And being an activist, is just a step closer to that. If I had to choose something that ticks me of about being an activist is people ALWAYS expect YOU to know the answer to anything being asked about movements, marches, all of it. You also have to learn how to take care yourself, heal, and better yourself before going out in the world and wanting to help and heal the world. Healing yourself mentally and physically is just as important as healing the world. Take the time you need. Being an activist is literally a lifestyle. Blessed to say I have participated and have taken part in so many marches, movements and conferences. Young Activist, out.
"Activism is the rent I pay for living on this planet." - Alice Walker
