Change Agents

This is a letter to the folks who are trying to be woke but still need to listen: 

 

We strive to be Change Agents but we have a fear of being complicated

We are afraid of being weighted, aggravated and frustrated 

 

We come up with every excuse to refuse to do the work and be silenced

But our silence will not protect us, it just causes more violence 

 

How can we fulfill our life’s mission if we lack awareness to injustices in our world?

 

We claim it's necessary to be politically correct or PC, 

and to avoid conflict; we must agree to disagree

 

But No, 

we can no longer hide from the truth 

 Is it too PC to say that 250 black lives have been killed by police in 2016?

Is it too PC to say that gay people in Chechnya are being tortured to death as we speak?

Is it too PC to say that American citizens are told they are rapists, drug dealers, and terrorists on the daily

when in reality they are here for opportunity

 

 

People have told me to focus on the “Community” and these events are afar

but while we sit here in our individual bubbles

people are dying because of who they are

 

 

Global injustices affect us

You may be disagreeing but 

these events take a toll on our well being, 

 

We need to be in the moment and in the movements, 

And in order to do that, we need to make change

 

Martin made change when he spoke

Oscar made change when he educated

Malala made change when she stood up for her beliefs

Korematsu made change when he stood up for his people

 

These people did it, why can't we? Were they PC? I didn't think so

 

Our work’s mission expect us to shape a changing world 

but how will we change society 

if we don’t even know the needs of our own community

 

We need to resist, insist and persist while fostering conversation with administration 

making sure everyone around us has a voice

 

We need to listen

 in order to understand the needs and experiences of our community 

We can erase silence by creating and joining alliances 

 the one time of day the minority becomes the majority 

 

We need to make sure that all people here feel supported. 

We could do this by having panels, town halls, teach ins and speakers 

events where diversity issues are addressed, heard and recorded.

 

We need to know that one person’s step may be somebody else’s leap: 

‘cause Journey talks are great, but I've always had a tough time contemplating on the daily and sensing that in this world  

perfection is valued over improvement 

and people continue to be defined by numbers on a piece of paper, in the check books and on the scale 

and that, my friends is not equity and inclusion.

 

With integration, inspiration and innovation we can create connections, have reflections and address objections when needed to.

 

We need to include Diversity in our curriculum: texts, authors, perspectives, cultures, scientists and learning styles, everything to enhance our learning and make sure our spaces are places where multiculturalism is being celebrated not tolerated.

 

Lets wake up in 2018!

 

I hope you know that no matter what:  

I will attend the meetings

I will follow up with my community 

I will listen to you

I will advocate on your behalf regardless if our views align

And finally, I will love you because “Love itself is a revolutionary act”

And every single one of us has the potential to react

And make changes to injustices in our world

 

 

Thank you, and good luck to my fellow change agents doing this work with me