business case for racial equity

From the Desk of Natasha A. Harrison

In 2012, I suffered a painful miscarriage and I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes.  I sunk into a deep depression.  As I was trying pull myself out of the “sunken place”, I came across a quote from poet laureate Audre Lorde:

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

This began my love affair with Lorde.
Lorde is a self-described Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.  She is the mother of #RadicalSelfCare.  Her writings have taught me that I am worthy of self care despite what messages that I receive regarding my Blackness.  My personal discovery of Lorde has heightened my consciousness on the miraculous existence of Black people in America.  

“we were never meant to survive.”

The first act towards Black liberation is being healthy – emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally.  To speak out against injustices I must be alive.  To protest I must be alive.  

How are you practicing self care?

A Litany for Survival

By Audre Lorde

For those of us who live at the shoreline

standing upon the constant edges of decision

crucial and alone

for those of us who cannot indulge

the passing dreams of choice

who love in doorways coming and going

in the hours between dawns

looking inward and outward

at once before and after

seeking a now that can breed

futures

like bread in our children’s mouths

so their dreams will not reflect

the death of ours;

 For those of us

who were imprinted with fear

like a faint line in the center of our foreheads

learning to be afraid with our mother’s milk

for by this weapon

this illusion of some safety to be found

the heavy-footed hoped to silence us

For all of us

this instant and this triumph

We were never meant to survive.

And when the sun rises we are afraid

it might not remain

when the sun sets we are afraid

it might not rise in the morning

when our stomachs are full we are afraid

of indigestion

when our stomachs are empty we are afraid

we may never eat again

when we are loved we are afraid

love will vanish

when we are alone we are afraid

love will never return

and when we speak we are afraid

our words will not be heard

nor welcomed

but when we are silent

we are still afraid

 So it is better to speak

remembering

we were never meant to survive.

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