‘‘We are the ones”

The following poem was commissioned by the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and performed live during the National Day of Racial Healing in Flint, Michigan. I was tasked with composing in real time, listening for the spirit of the room and shaping language that reflected the themes of racial healing, justice, and shared responsibility. Spoken throughout the event, the poem became a shared effort, formed through attentive witnessing of the conversations taking place and guided by the facilitators’ intentions. What emerged was a beautiful reminder, a poetic set of meeting minutes that honored the collective presence in the room and named why we came.

Photography by Jessica Hatter Photography

I came in around 8am.

Coffee brewing

With the crew 

early risers 

People seemed anxious 

excited 

curious 

willing to help 

Regardless 

Everyone was present

Everyone smiled 

But then the food was set up 

paintings made their way to the corners of the room 

And the beloved playlist began to play 

instantly it felt much warmer than outside 

Guest began to arrive

Cozy hats came off 

Coats on chairs 

Silos split 

Handshakes and warm hugs  

Jerome woke us up with Good morning 

Grounding us in the decision we all made to be here today 

Lynn gave us poetry 

Reminding us who we came ready to be 

While some fail to realize 

But that aint got nothing to do with us  

Elizabeth reminded us of the power in 1sts

The continuation of yesterday's MLK

We give thanks and continue to ask 

Where do we go from here 

Clearly a path addressing racial injustice in communities and institutions 

Uplifting 

Stories of race and the indigenous 

The heartwork, the people work 

Being relational 

It was evident that we only clap for truth 

And acknowledge people speaking that same truth to power

Whether they started for free or payroll 

Even when the mic goes out 

Somewhat symbolic of the work 

Does it work? 

Not all the time!

But we laugh through and acknowledge what has happened 

And just like that we are back in action 

With our whole selves 

In pain 

With curiosity of how the heck will we share a future 

And a knowing that the answer is in the work we do today 

Lets give it up for the youth who brought the rhythm 

Energy of the marches 

Reminding us that one beat sounds way better when we do it together 

Djembe hands

Let us know the ancestors aren't too far away 

Kinda sounded like heartbeats

The blues was far from sadness

They knew the last song would wake us up 

If the full course breakfast tried to sneak in the itis 

David Luke acknowledged the land with accountability 

Thomas acknowledged the backs who bring the work 

Canisha invited us back into our bodies 

Realizing our privilege 

Wise spoken with intention 

With breath and body 

Delma comes in with another good morning

and at this time we 

Realize the agenda is curated with intention 

And we are getting deeper 

In spirit and mycelium roots that extends beneath our tables 

Regina comes in and reminds us of the realtime work

Touchstones that respect silence 

Help us be comfortable with the uncomfortable 

While she keeps us on our toes 

Pulling out the truth in realtime 

A lover of keeping it real 

And observing the room

Connecting 

Absorbing 

Stopping traffic 

Acknowledging the disruptors in the room 

Emerging elders 

Because the time is now 

Unscared of the KKK

But side-eyeing white modernists

Time to practice beloved community again and again 

And we are the ones

Throwing away despair, keeping wonder 

We are the ones 

Being pulled into tables 

We are the ones 

Continuing to show up 

We are the ones 

Dispelling myths and assumption 

We've been waiting

Even if they don't acknowledge the impact 

They

Will 

Feel

It