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The Energy of Sunrays
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Destiny: A Force Majeure
Systemic oppression; infinite manifestations
A celestial black hole: a death trap
Ever present, no escape, impervious to light
No safe place; no one to trust
Desperation, like Death Valley: no way out, no way up
Utterly thwarted
Endless soul-crushing humiliation, vilification, dehumanization
Deepest depths of abject despair
Beneath the surface, deep down
Creepingly, unrelentingly, feeling irreparably damaged, broken, worthless
Crushing Maslow's hierarchy
Shattering connections, dreams, education and employment aspirations, entire futures
A single act of injustice can permanently cripple or kill the vulnerable
Constant mortal danger
Terror with every breath, every step
Constant hum contemplating annihilation
"I can't breath..."
"Mama, Mama..."
Breath is forcibly extinguished ad nauseam
Extinguishing hope for generations
Obliterating lives, communities, cultures
911 Emergency: cease over policing, killing our children; precious lives
Oppressors rationalize their actions ad nauseam
Impenetrably oblivious to the massive suffering created by their brutality
Cries for justice fall like silent raindrops in cities across the country
The highest court in the land wielding unrepresentative power
Recklessly and shamelessly, with no regard for women's agency, well-being
Shredded and revoked our most inviolable fundamental freedom
The right of women to control our bodily autonomy
The right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution
Upending 50 years of Stare Decisis Doctrine: courts adherence to precedent
The minority majority codified the deepest intrusions into women's bodies
Over policing, punishing women; stripping them of their free will
Oppressors rationalize their actions ad nauseam
Impenetrably oblivious to the massive suffering created by their unjust laws
Cries for justice fall like silent raindrops on the steps of "Equal Justice Under Law"
The most tenured judge on the highest court in the land
Deemed all rights under the 14th Amendment to be fair game
Same-sex marriage, biracial marriage, birth control, with no end in sight
Constitutional rights previously upheld under the Due Process Clause and Stare Decisis
States cannot deprive “any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”
Oppressors rationalize their actions ad nauseam
Impenetrably oblivious to the massive suffering created by their unjust laws
Cries for justice fall like silent raindrops on the steps of "Equal Justice Under Law"
Oppressors rarely pay a commensurate price relative to the damage they inflict
Retaliation, reserved for those who dare to confront the oppressors, is calculated, pure evil
Retaliation eviscerates lives; disguised as "justified" acts by the oppressors
Systemic overhaul of our world is urgently needed
To reverse the crushing reality
Oppression, in all manifestations, causes profound everlasting damage
Oppression claims an unbearable number of gorgeous stories, gorgeous lives
Systemic oppression, like black holes
Necessitates extraordinary countervailing forces
With utmost urgency
Leaders, heroes rise up
Bravery of bystanders, the oppressed
Muster uncommon courage
Courage personified: Simone Biles, Tarana Burke, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Anita Hill, Ashley Judd, Colin Kaepernick, Billy Jean King, Jim Obergefell, Bryan Stevenson, Serena and Venus Williams
Stand resolute against systemic oppression in all of its manifestations
Call out incessant, vitriolic, demoralizing prejudice
Humiliation, vilification, dehumanization
Actions that exploit the oppressed, the vulnerable
Those in power: no tired excuses
Fundamentally overhaul the legal and criminal justice systems
Punish the oppressors, protect the brave, stop the unjustified violence
End the massive voter suppression
Silence, inaction equal complicity
No illusion of the Herculean task ahead
Exorcise the oppressive demons, the internalized hate and shame
Deploy righteous rage, protecting oneself and others
Embrace constructive rage: a wellspring of creativity, igniting reimagination, the drive to begin anew
Dare to lead with moral courage at all levels
Build just and equitable legal, social and political systems; vote
Elect culturally-aware, empathetic, brave, visionary leaders and judges
Find your voice, create, organize and protest to exhaustion
Resurrect hope: build strength and solidarity in community, culture, bonds with trusted mentors
Supremely cherish, nurture each other: the lives of the oppressed
Stand united against all injustice
Potential manifests in the battle to annihilate oppression
Liberating the vast energy daily survival demands in an oppressive regime
With each breath, connection, creation, true expression, dream fulfilled, we overcome
Reclaim our essence: unwavering conviction in our own humanity, worth, brilliance, beauty
Reclaim our bodies, our freedom to love, our cultural heritage, our birthrights
Reclaim our agency, our power, our destiny
Break the chains
Dismantle, defeat, obliterate systemic oppression in all of its manifestations
Destiny: a force majeure
- Nadine Bell
All images used for illustration purposes only.