by Nicole LaFave
On July 24,2015 the Movement for Black Lives Convening took in Cleveland, Ohio. Approximately 1,500 brown and black bodies flooded the Cleveland State University campus. Black people from across the globe traveled to the Midwest in hopes of garnering the rejuvenation to continue the movement for Black Lives. The purpose of this convening was to empower people of the African Diaspora to lead their own movement to dismantle structural and systemic racism. The very essence of this convening was to create a safe space for black voices and concerns to be heard; a space filled with love, healing and resilience.
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| via Twitter, Laila Nur |
Beautiful afros, dreadlocks, Senegalese twist and other forms of African hairstyles were sported by the beautiful black men, women and children in attendance. "Good morning beautiful black people," was heard by a group of teens from the Greater Ithaca Activities Center summer camp. Huge smiles filled the faces of this group of teens. How often does one hear such a greeting on the streets from a stranger? This greeting set the tone for the rest of the weekend which was filled with black love, hope and strategic planning for the rebirth of what it means to be Black in America.
The weekend consisted of three days of workshops centered around political education, cultural strategy, community based research,movement-building and envisioning a future where black mothers and fathers don't have to worry about the safety of their children. "My nephew is turning 16 in two weeks, I am praying that he makes it to his birthday," said a young woman sitting next to me in the auditorium. I felt tears swelling in my eyes,as I looked at my one year old son who I brought to Cleveland with me. Is this what I have to look forward to as a mother of a young brown son?
Am I no longer looking forward to the milestones that my white friends have the luxury of looking forward to? Am I no longer looking forward to him walking across the stage at his high school and college graduation? Within minutes, I reminded myself why I was here, to begin the blueprint for a better future for all the brown and black children in my Ithaca community.
As we walked through the campus, spoken word and poetry filled the air from black brothers and sisters. Graceful black bodies participated in gentle yoga and tai-chi. This is what racial healing looks like is all I could think of as I walked through this nirvana of black beauty. Amanda David, a local herbalist and healer from Ithaca, New York, was one of many volunteer healers at the convening. "The trip and the conference were literally EVERYTHING! Life changing, life affirming, life giving," exclaimed David. Many may argue that there is no traumatic stress felt by one due to racism. However until you are followed in your local Target by a security guard, told that you are beautiful 'for a black woman',or have someone stroke your hair as if you are a pet, you will never underside the side effects or harm of being exoticized, marginalized and discriminated against due to the color of your skin.
This three day weekend gave many black people the energy they needed to continue to fight for equality for all black lives. How does one stay healthy and happy while engaging in social justice work? Is it possible to be healthy and happy while fighting for racial justice and end to white supremacy? The Movement for Black Lives Convening proved that there must be more spaces created that allow black people to organize, support and strategize in their movement towards creating a better future and a better world where black people can thrive and not merely survive.
Nicole LaFaveTHE DECOLONIZER
September 2015
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