The World Needs Your Light
The year was 2016. It was a weekend afternoon and my younger brother and I were enjoying some drinks at Starbucks. I was browsing Facebook when I stumbled across an article about a shooting where a man murdered 49 people at a popular gay night club called Pulse in Orlando, Florida.
I was devastated. Although I had no personal connection to any of the victims or survivors, the emotional trauma I experienced reading about the detailed accounts of anti—LGBTQ violence had a significant impact on me. So much so that I felt compelled to speak up by officially coming out on social media. My hope was that by doing so, I would offer my support to those who felt helpless during that time. Maybe by me living in my truth, I can inspire someone else to live in theirs, despite the violence the world perpetuates against us.
Unfortunately, accounts like are not unique:
Black trans women have experienced increasing homicide rates.
Immigrants, especially those who are Black or brown, experience discrimination at a higher rates than their white counterparts.
Nearly 83% of native Americans have experienced violence in their lifetime.
Knowing this, it becomes easy to succumb to bleak perception of the world. But if we widen our perspective, we can see how connected we all are, even in our struggle. If we dig deeper, this connectedness shows that we also all have a shared responsibility to ourselves and the world around us. A responsibility to use our voice, our power, to be a force for good and change in the world.
This doesn’t guarantee that turbulent times won’t come and that every battle fought will be won, but we have to try.
Try like Marsha P. Johnson, who was a Black trans woman and LGBTQ advocate who also co-founded the pride movement.
Try like Toni Morrison, who was a Black woman critically, acclaimed, Nobel Prize winning writer
Try like Waunetta McClellan Dominic who was an Ottawa activist who fought on behalf on indigenous people around the world ensuring that the US government adheres to its treaty obligations.
Try like Andrew J. Blackbird, who was an Ottawa leader, writer and historian.
Each of us possesses great power and the ability to inspire change in the world—both big and small. But first we must reflect upon the change we want to see within ourselves. So, I encourage you to raise your voice, speak out against injustice. Use your power for good, to instill hope, love and joy In the world. To lift each other up and embolden those who need your strength.
The world needs you and your light.
‘Power’ Mural by Jay Hero featuring Marsha P. Johnson, Toni Morrison, Andrew J. Blackbird and Waunetta McClellan Dominic.
