Waiting for Moses

"I love this cultured hell that tests my youth.
Her vigor flows like tides into my blood,
Giving me strength erect against her hate,
Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood.
Yet, as a rebel fronts a king in state,
I stand within her walls with not a shred
Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer."
– Claude McKay, America

What does it look like for a marginalized American to engage in a nation that has too many times proven itself unworthy of them, yet still meet each day armed with hope and faith in the face of its failures? This is a question that I ponder more than I would like in my daily life. I continually struggle to love a nation whose ideals and realities remain painfully divided. By this, I mean America’s contradictions, not to express a deflated hope, but because I believe that the very idea of love, however absent it may seem, proves its enduring possibility. Even as I admit my struggle to love America, the very fact that I raise this question reveals that I see the potential for this nation to become one worthy of the love of all of its citizens. The challenge, however, is one that has lingered for centuries: America becoming a nation worthy of our love often feels out of reach. The question, then, becomes: how do we reach a state of love for America, and what will get us there? I have one answer: you.

In America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries, Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, in conversation with W.E.B. Du Bois, expands the concept of double consciousness, arguing that this country has a divided soul: “a nation that defines itself with the foundational principles of the equality of men and yet holds others as chattel or resigns them to second-class citizens.” This statement captures a significant contradiction of the American experience for those who face marginalization. Much progress has been made in this country throughout the traumas of enslavement, Jim Crow, and the struggle for civil rights, to name a few. This nation has shown many glimpses of defining itself with the foundational principles of equality. Yet Black, Brown, poor, and working-class individuals are resigned to second-class citizenship through voter suppression, police brutality, mass incarceration, health disparities, employment discrimination, and countless inequities. Despite this, freedom fighters throughout history have stood up amid these harsh realities and resisted powers, despite the repercussions. These sacrifices have created much of the changed reality we see today, though much work lies ahead. The question, then, is not whether change is possible; history has already answered that. The question for each of us is whether we will accept our responsibility to continue the work.

In our current moment, too many of us remain asleep to the collective power we possess. We are living in an odd time in history when much has been achieved, but much more needs to be done in the face of a nation that perpetuates inequalities in too many ways to count. It seems to me that many of us have forgotten the power that we hold, individually and communally, to create change. Oftentimes, we fall victim to the waiting game: waiting for a prophetic, charismatic leader to appear from the shadows and lead us out of troubled waters. Challenging this notion of social change being dependent on a single charismatic figure, Ella Baker asserted, “There is also the danger in our culture that because a person is called upon to give public statements and is acclaimed by the establishment, such a person gets to the point of believing that he is the movement.” This is a historical, patriarchal trap that we must not fall victim to any longer. Waiting for a leader is no different than listening to moderates who tell us to wait for progress. In both scenarios, progress is treading water.

The trap of waiting for a leader often causes us to forget the transformative power of collective action. It makes us forget the gifts and intellect that each of us possesses. Some may ask how they should play their part. I answer: embrace your strengths and passions, and use them as tools to advance your community. If you can organize, bring people together around common agendas. If you can listen, support those around you, and create an inclusive environment for all. If you can mentor, invest in our youth. If you can create, use your art, music, or craft to inspire hope and challenge injustice. If you can write, boldly tell stories that need to be told. If you can read, educate others. If you can speak, speak boldly on behalf of those who are marginalized. Whatever gifts you may have, use them boldly and use them often.

This movement may not resemble historic movements, including the Civil Rights Movement, and that is okay. Perhaps this is why we struggle to imagine contemporary movements: many of us remain confined by a vision of social change shaped by that of the past. Every generation faces different, but similar challenges that call for new responses. We must adjust to the times in which we live and use our gifts in the ways that we have been created to use them. Only when each of us recognizes and uses these gifts in our everyday lives will we show true and sustainable progress. Without you, we will not reach our fullest potential.

You are the leader that you have been looking for. Loving America may be a hard task for many, particularly those of color, despite the progress that has been made. It may even be impossible for some. However, I challenge you to embrace the power and strength within yourself instead of waiting for a Moses to come along. Through this, we can cultivate a love rooted in the legacy of generations who have fought for change in this country. You may not love the history of this nation, but you can come to love the legacy of those who were overlooked yet continued to fight for a more just society. This, I believe, is what we must cling to during this current moment. Fight with conviction, but guide it with love, allowing love to shape your actions while keeping your gaze fixed on the ultimate aim of a society inclusive of all. I will end with the words of Ella Baker, “Give light, and people will find the way.” Let love be your light, and create change.