By Erich Becker
Rayshard Brooks … Elijah McClain … Amy Cooper … David McAtee
Breonna Taylor … Ariana McCree … George Floyd … Ahmaud Arbery
Incidents of injustice … betrayals of confidence
externalized prejudice … and senseless violence
As we witness new outbreaks of racial unrest,
we march our moral outrage in anguished protest,
and we rally in community with tears of lament.
An alarm bell is ringing … will we wake and repent?
*
Change is only conceived now in these moments we share,
but it will be miscarried unless an impassioned few dare
to turn moments into momentum, to keep speaking out,
risking danger and censure, pushing through every doubt,
sounding long enough, loud enough in every context
to ensure that this moment’s not silenced by the next.
*
True change begins in a person’s heart and soul –
in worldviews and prejudices now centuries old.
Only then can lasting change be nurtured, given birth
in every system everywhere which ignores the inherent worth
of each person, every color, not just the white one,
and those in power acknowledge: Everyone is Someone.
*
Only power can effect any change that will last –
just ask the numberless unheard voices from our past.
Whites with courageous conviction need to speak from inside,
to become allies, to reach out from their side of the divide
and on behalf of the powerless-many set all things right:
justice and righteousness for every color, not just white.
*
Today’s awakenings are hopeful, but we’ve a long way to go,
and our sisters of every color will tell us what they know:
culture-shaking change takes ongoing noise and protest,
so let’s delay our rejoicing and continue a full-on press.
The next moment is coming. We can’t celebrate yet.
Today we keep fighting so tomorrow’s we won’t forget.
*
Racism and discrimination, and privilege and fear,
and ignorance and prejudice … they have no place here.
The profiling and reviling and defiling must cease,
until all know equality and dignity and peace.
Justice must be the experience of each and every one
because Everyone is Someone … Everyone … Someone.
*
Stories Changing Lives