On Participation in the Movement for Black and Collective Liberation

“The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free.” Maya Angelou

Hey, welcome to the revolution!

Across the United States, the spontaneous protests and gatherings in our cities and towns are not only a reuprooting a status quo that is rotten to the core.

Black and Collective Liberation is less about getting rid of something and more about re-imagining everything.

There is no time more urgent than now. sponse to a single death or racist event. They represent a So how can you help? much larger, longer struggle. First, engage in action. Our bodies on the street make

Generations of people have fought for the right to a difference at every level of governance: city, county, simply exist. state and national. Attend meetings, educate yourself,

In this moment of crisis and opportunity, we can write letters, vote and help others register, support BIQTchoose Black and Collective Liberation: to right past POC-owned businesses,** talk to your friends, bosses, wrongs in the present, and secure a tomorrow in which and representatives, and ask them to do more. Center Black and Brown children will grow up safe, pursue their the most vulnerable: Black and Indigenous people, wompassions and gifts, and make their extraordinary, joyous en and femmes, children, elders, the poor, immigrants, contributions. None are free until all are free. disabled and folks who are sick and struggling.

I invite you to join me in dedicating your strength, When we support each other in our communities, we commitment, power and heart to follow Black leaders and solve our own problems. accomplish Black and Collective Liberation. Second, take responsibility. If someone graces you

The supremacist vision of “liberty” is a twisted freedom with feedback, take the time to explore how internalized — to steal, exploit, murder — to destroy without restraint. supremacy might be affecting your thoughts, words, and Individuals act today without fear of tomorrow’s justice, all actions. Let go of perfection, you will make mistakes for the sake of access to unlimited power and profit. along the way. Address the

White Nationalism problem in your behavior, allows elite, rich men to garner the support of poor white folks. Just like the KKK was funded by, and took orders from the Knights of the White Camellia,* the “haves” use whiteness and the unlikely possibility of joining the powerful few, to divide the natural solidarity of the Nancy Shanteau SCAN ME! and keep fighting. Third, bring your persistence. This movement is generations old, and we may not see its end in our lifetime. We fight anyway, for a country that achieves our ideals, elected officials who represent the vast majority of us and better lives for all. “have-nots.” There is no time more

Institutionalized systems is the lineage bearer for Skills for Change Coaching, important than now to of oppression work togeth- an approach to making life changes for individuals stand up against tyranny er to deliberately repress seeking power-informed radical embodiment theory and show up for democraand practice. Co-author of Access to Power: a Radical and exploit people based Approach for Changing Your Life, she leads online cy. Together we can -- and on race: from drug and tax courses such as Live Your Relationship Values and will -- change everything. law, to education vouchers, Cooperative Communication. Nancy identifies as Citations: unfair housing practices, white, multi-ethnic, pansexual, aromantic, relationship * Christopher Long, “KNIGHTS police and incarceration. anarchist and as a settler living in unceded Nisenan OF THE WHITE CAMELLIA”, Handbook of Texas Online Black leaders’ calls to #De- territory. Find her on Patreon at https://www.patreon. ** BIQTPOC: Black, Indigenous, fund and #Abolish are about com/nancyshanteau and on her website at http:// Queer, Trans, People of Color 14 www.nancyshanteau.com. Nancy Shanteau (she/her)