Remembering my mentor #VivianMaloneJones!
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 78th in our Democracy and Hope Series. This series will highlight hopeful aspects about our Democracy using various genres including poems, interviews, short stories, and articles about political events
they tried to shut the door, lock history behind bricks and stares, told her the road to justice wasn’t paved for her feet, said the ink of her name would never stain their legacy.
but Vivian, daughter of sunlit dreams and unyielding roots, walked anyway, turned their “no” into a hymn, carved her place in a room built on exclusion, where the walls whispered rebellion and the floorboards sang freedom’s tune.
she wore courage like a crown, made the sky her mirror, saw herself reflected in every star that dared to rise beyond the clouds. she was the storm they couldn’t silence, the quiet revolution of a woman who knew her name belonged in the annals of liberty.
when they barred the gates, she carried the key in her resolve, walked through a history that never wanted her stride, but she left footprints anyway, bold, undeniable, shaping paths for those yet to come.
Vivian taught us that justice is not a gift but a right claimed by those brave enough to make the world remember their fight.
©️MustafaSantiagoAli
#Poetry #ProudBlue #BlackHistoryWithLana #CivilRights