Battling Internalized Oppression

by India Johnson

Last month, many of us celebrated #Juneteenth, which commemorates the day when all people in this country were finally freed from the shackles of slavery. As we all should know by now, two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation into law, African American people in Texas, and possibly across the South were still being forced to work in brutal conditions for free, while being stripped of their humanity. For two years after the Civil War had been fought and won by the North, those in power were able to disregard the word of the President of the United States and continue to commit crimes against humanity. It is important that I use this language to emphasize the evil which was committed against humans who had every right to freedom, joy, and abundance.

I often wonder why my ancestors did not fight for their freedom the way the forefathers of this country fought for theirs. It is no coincidence to me that just two weeks after acknowledging Juneteenth, the entire country takes the Fourth of July off from work to celebrate Independence Day. Of course, not everyone feels that #IndependenceDay is for them; African Americans were actively being enslaved and brutalized as this country was warring for its freedom from England. I have had my own qualms with Independence Day for that very reason, but recently I have experienced a paradigm shift.?

For me, Independence Day is a reminder that freedom is always taken and taken back by force. From the time Moses led his people to be freed from slavery in Egypt to the current fight against child trafficking, to gain one’s freedom requires strength, boldness, and a willingness to fight the good fight. As I look around at the conditions of those whose bloodlines have been disrupted by any form of oppression, I wonder if they will ever get their fight back. As opposed to fighting our loved ones or battling with our creator, it is imperative that everyone who continues to carry the energy of bondage finds the inner strength to fight against everything that keeps them bound.?

War is not pretty, easy, or fun; war is necessary for radical change. There are casualties, and there is pain. You will not win every battle, and you will experience some losses that feel like the end of the world, but that is when you dig deep, pull yourself back up, stand on the faith that you have in the fact that there is something better for you, and keep fighting. Not every war involves weapons or physical force; many wars are between one’s own heart and mind. Some wars are between the good and evil which surround and even reside within us.?

Do not be afraid when things get difficult, and don’t use your troubles as an opportunity to give yourself permission to turn back. You have a responsibility to fight for your freedom, your #joy, your #peace, and your #fulfillment. You will have to battle against your own mind in order to shift your thinking to a mind-frame that supports the life you desire to live. Surround yourself with positivity. Encourage yourself with stories of those who have won the battle for their freedom. Believe that you deserve the abundance that has been promised to you. Fight for your own #liberation.?

I would love to encourage you on your journey toward living a fearless, free, and abundant life. You can engage with me via my social media platforms, join one of my groups, and even book a one-on-one session with me. I am here to support you in pursuing your dreams and accessing your best self.?