Beyond Likes and Smiley Faces: Answering the Urgent Call to Action

As I open my social media feeds, I am compelled to shout from every stage and street corner that today, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of history, summoned by a call to action. It is a call that demands our attention, our commitment, and our unwavering determination. Regardless of the generation or identities you hold dear, now is the time for action. We must not shrink from the challenges before us; instead, we must rise and embrace the urgency of this moment.

"On November 19, 1970, James Baldwin, gifted writer and truth-teller,?penned a letter to scholar and human rights activist, Angela Davis 'one way of gauging a nation’s health, or of discerning what it really considers to be its interests - or to what extent it can be considered as a nation distinguished from a coalition of special interests - is to examine?those people it elects to represent or protect it. One glance at the American leaders (or figure-heads) conveys that America is on the edge of absolute chaos...'”??Upon closing his letter, Baldwin assures Davis that “her fight is our own” because “if they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night”[1].?This 1970 correspondence between James Baldwin and Angela Davis could have been written today –its truth is undeniable.?In this pivotal moment, where daily actions reduce our democracy and sense of safety, action screams our for us, it calls through the air, demanding our attention, our energy, and our unwavering commitment.?

50 years later we stand at the crossroads, again. Action doesn't need to be complex, overwhelming, or terrifying. It has no reason to be violent or dismissive. Start where you start.

In our own backyards, heat the coals of connection and understanding. Let the sizzle of the barbecue grill become the backdrop for conversations that bridge the divides of difference. As a Southerner it has for centuries been the heat of food that brought together great minds and movements. For it is in these intimate gatherings, that strong and lasting friendships are built, and stereotypes shattered.

We must venture boldly into our elementary, high school, colleges, and trade school politics. It is there, within the halls of our educational institutions, that we have the power to shape the future. Run, my friends, for every office, from the smallest local council to the grandest national stage (after all if D T can run for President, why not Suzy Q or Joe Blow?).?

It is through our presence, our voices, and our unwavering commitment to progress that we can create lasting change. Become the hosts of courageous conversations and build, rent, and share spaces where the strength of empathy and understanding can flourish. Teach one another the art of listening, of truly hearing with curiosity and empathy the experiences and perspectives of others. Only through these transformative conversations can we tear down the walls that divide us and build bridges of unity.

But we cannot stop there. We must for the future of our nation, move beyond the confines of our comfort zones and embrace the power of collective action. In the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, we must gather, side by side, in the sanctuaries of our places of worship. Within these spaces, let us share our insights, our hopes, and our dreams. And once we have spoken, let us demand that others do the same, for it is through these demands that change happens.

Action – making deep footprints in the sand for others to follow will change the narrative and our nation. Hand-wringing has never propelled any country forward. Change has always been rooted in the unwavering determination of mothers, aunts, fathers and brothers, colleagues, and neighbors, who tore down the walls of legal segregation and combated the cancer of racist ideologies. Today, we face new challenges, but the path remains the same. It is action, not the hollow echoes of "likes" or "smiley faces," that will stem the tide of exclusion that grows like bamboo – the longer it's allowed to flourish, the more tenacious it becomes.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not mere abstract concepts to be casually discarded. They are the foundation upon which our shared humanity rests. They cannot be diminished or dismissed like a package of Twinkies; they must be cherished, nurtured, and fiercely protected.

Now is the time my friends, with passion and urgency to move from the shadows into the light. We must, each one of us, be the change we wish to see in the world. Backyard by backyard, school by school, office by office, let us leave our mark on the chronicles of history. The time is now, and our children and their children await our collective action. I am convinced that together, we can create a brighter future!

[1]?https://www.huffpost.com/entry/if-they-take-you-in-the-morning-they-will-be-coming_b_588e356ae4b06364bb1e26f4