Mustafa Santiago Ali
Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali is the Executive Vice President of Conservation & Justice for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), former Interim Chief of Programs at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and Instructor at American University. He is the Founder and CEO of Revitalization Strategies. He also serves as a commissioner for The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS). He is an award-winning writer and poet focused on social justice. Dr. Ali is frequently seen on television, including appearances on MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, VICE, FUSE, BET, National Geographic, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and Democracy NOW! Mustafa is also a regular guest on Roland Martin Unfiltered, Black News Channel, Tavis Smiley Show, The Dean Obeidallah Show, and many others…
Editor's Note: This poem is the 113th in our Democracy and Hope Series. This series will highlight hopeful aspects about our Democracy using various genres including poems
my daddy got a laugh that splits open the sky, makes collard greens dance in the pot, turns the porch into a sanctuary. he don’t preach— but his quiet is gospel, & his love? that’s the loudest thing i know.
he don’t brag ’bout the nights he went without, bout the steel in his spine or the prayers he buried in his pillow— but i remember the lights stayed on, the hugs came easy, & his “i’m proud of you” felt like freedom.
Black joy ain’t always fireworks— sometimes it’s a hand on your shoulder saying “i got you,” even when the world don’t.
on Father’s Day, we pass him the big piece of chicken, kiss his cheek, laugh ‘til the sky blushes, & call it holy.
he is the reason the soil remembers our name.
say amen for daddies who never left. say amen for joy that grew roots. say amen for Black love that lasts.
©️MustafaSantiagoAli
#Love #HappyFathersDay