1619 Angola to Jamestown
Snatched without permission
Imprisoned without permission
Transported without permission
Enslaved without permission
Raped without permission
Tortured without permission
“FREED” with permission
Let’s Celebrate!
1865 Juneteenth, the emancipation of the remaining slaves. A day of freedom.
In 1865 descendants of Africa living in America were “officially” free. What did this really mean? From my perspective it meant that people were physically free but the psychological and emotional trauma that was endured caused irrevocable damage. Essentially many of the freed slaves were still mentally and emotionally enslaved. Imagine living under the control of others with little to no human rights then “poof” you are free to live. But still not free to live like those oppressors. Understand that the freedom did not automatically change the ill feelings that others continued to harbor regarding people of African descent. The ongoing systematic discrimination and racism created the need for some descendants of Africa to continuously “seek permission” The fear and trauma instilled internally has bred a lifetime of proceeding with caution.
Now we SEEK permission
Permission travel
Permission to marry
Permission to celebrate
Permission to purchase and rent homes
Permission to start businesses
Permission to be educated
Permission to breathe
I CAN’T BREATHE!
On December 30, 2017 Eric Garner was murdered by police officers after repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe.” On May 25, 2020 George Floyd was murdered by police officers after repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe.” It is the 21st century and there is still an expectation that we seek permission. We are seeking permission to live, both figuratively and literally. We are suffocating. The violation of our human and civil rights is suffocating. The expectation that we must ask for permission to live is suffocating. We need change with laws and actions but most importantly change of hearts. The Time Is NOW!