And Its Lasting Impact on Communities of Color
Freedom: Love Liberates
"I never ever saw my nana cry. But when she answered that door on Christmas Eve 1988, I heard her soul tremble, “Lawd have mercy.” My seven-year-old spirit knew our lives would never be the same. I stood behind her, wearing my green velour dress, white tights, and black patent leather shoes. The stench in that hall wreaked. I stared at the graffiti on the hallway walls trying to decipher its meaning. I couldn't, so I counted the steps. I counted 11 from the bottom step to our door. I couldn't decipher “grown folks business,” but I’ll never forget this big, dark, unfamiliar face saying, “Yvette gone. She didn't make it." ---Excerpt from Freedom: Love Liberates.
In the early 1980s, a new drug began to sweep through communities of color across the country. Crack cocaine was cheap, potent, and highly addictive, and it quickly became a scourge in these neighborhoods. The failed war on drugs led to the mass incarceration of people of color and the damage done to these communities is still felt today. Now, we are facing another epidemic - this time, it's the "opioid crisis."
That's another conversation for another post. For now, I'll say we need safe spaces to have honest conversations in order to heal.
Yo Mama's on Crack Rock!
What was designed to derail adults, deeply impacted us kids. Songs were made, jokes cracked [pun intended] and one child too many left behind.
We're not free unless we're all free!
Freedom from addiction is paramount, but liberty from the domino effect must be pursued if true freedom is to be achieved.
Across the nation, there are generations of fractured families trapped in the cracks and crevices of our nation's foster care system, facing poor Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), low-skill, low-wage earners because of their criminal history, access (or lack thereof) to high-quality education, and affordable housing. We must provide a pathway to freedom and hope for those trapped in the grips of addiction, poverty, and criminalization.
It's time to turn our focus towards creating communities that are equitable and inclusive - where everyone has access to the resources they need to break free from the chains of addiction and socioeconomic hardship.
I used to refer to myself and others like me as the residue of the 80s. We're what's left. But be clear, we are not victims of history - instead, we are the leaders, the teachers, the healers, policymakers, artists, and advocates, lifting our collective voices to create a future where everyone, including my babies and yours, can find freedom.
I now declare:
I am the daughter of Shanefa and Poochie.
The sister of Jeremy and Blockhead Lamar.
The mother of The Boy and the Girl.
I am the mantel of Grace.
I'm so grateful to stand alongside superheroes who simply don't wear capes. My co-laborers and prayer warriors. Freedom is our goal, and the truth is our guide!
The question is who are you and will you join us?
Because the truth is we're not free unless we're all free!
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