Freedom to BE!
Today, I come to you with a heart full of concern, a mind full of distressing thoughts, and some ignited anger. This combination of emotion compels me to raise the alarm and express some of my deepest worries and fears. Y'all, we are in trouble! America is at a critical crossroad, and many of those in power would like to see us go backwards. Back to a time when we were legally considered 3/5th human and humanity did not apply to Black people. From the banning and censorship of books by Black authors, to the rollback of women's rights, to the suppression of voting rights, we find ourselves on a dangerous path that jeopardizes our fundamental freedoms and liberties. We have to do something to stop these regressive actions and uphold the hard-fought rights won by our ancestors.
Just this week in Florida, the poem Amanda Gorman read at President Biden's inauguration was censored because someone said it was not educational and contains hateful messages. On January 20th, 2021, Amanda Gorman, an African-American woman, made history as the youngest-ever inaugural poet and the first national youth poet laureate. Her poem, titled "The Hill We Climb," resonated deeply as a call for unity and justice in America. She wrote:
"We've braved the belly of the beast.
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace,
and the norms and notions
of what just is
isn't always just-ice."
As I read Amanda Gorman's poem today and write
this column, tears are rolling down my face because
like Amanda said in a tweet yesterday, "I am gutted."
I am sad. I am angry. In my view, this young woman
represents the best and the brightest of our culture
in America. In her inaugural poem she wrote:
We, the successors of a country and a time
where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother
can dream of becoming president
only to find herself reciting for one.
And yes, we are far from polished,
far from pristine,
but that doesn't mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect.
We are striving to forge a union with purpose,
to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors,
characters, and
conditions of man.
I, too, was that skinny Black girl, raised by a single mother and full of hope. Now, our stories, our experiences, our lives, our dreams are discounted, deemed unworthy, un-educational, even harmful. Our history, our shared narrative, is under attack. The relentless attempts to ban, censor and rewrite our history put us in grave danger and jeopardize future generations. The passing of laws that supposedly protect our rights and moral compass are often sneaky and crafty tactics to suppress diverse thoughts, history and people. This is happening in everywhere but especially in red states and we should all be concerned. Though she did not have to Gorman uses her words to try to bridge the divide in America. She said:
"We close the divide because we know, to put our
future first,
we must first put our differences aside.
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another.
We seek harm to none and harmony for all."
Gorman's message of inclusion, hope, and harmony for all has been dismissed, set aside, and trashed. What's even more alarming is, the very person who placed her ideas and hope in harm's way has recently announced his candidacy for President. Yes, Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, is running for the highest office in the United States, and I am sounding the alarm. Please, hear me! We are in grave danger! Our very existence is at stake. We cannot afford to be apathetic, disconnected, uninterested, inactive, or silent. We can no longer say, "Look at what's happening in Florida, Texas, or red states," because the aim now is to replicate DeSantis's efforts on a national scale.
Today, I challenge you to join me in voicing your concerns, sounding the alarm and becoming disruptors to this movement to take us backwards. We must not only vote but also fight for our freedom to be recognized, heard, and respected as human beings. We cannot afford to be bystanders, hoping that this won't happen to us. It is happening, and as Gorman said, we must fight for our rights, so we can leave a legacy of hope and justice for future generations. Gorman went on to say:
We will not march back to what was
but move to what shall be:
a country that is bruised but whole,
benevolent but bold,
fierce, and free.
We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation
because we know our inaction and inertia
will be the inheritance of the next generation.
It's time to take a stand y'all. Let's raise our voices and reignite our fight for the freedom to BE!!!!
Sophia Brewer (M.L.I.S.) is Collection Development and Serials Librarian, Grand Rapids Community College; Co-President of the Greater Grand Rapids History Council; member of the Grand Rapids Study Club and serves on the Grand Rapids Public Library, Board of Library Commission- ers (Elected 2016-2021). She is a former Head of Programs, Grand Rapids Public Library and former Branch Manager, Madison Square Branch, Grand Rapids Public Library Congresswoman
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