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 80th 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
Some folks think the trees only bow for them— like the wind don’t hum in every tongue, like the sun don’t kiss every face.
But she knew better.
Audrey walked into the forest, and the leaves clapped their hands. The rivers parted their lips: Welcome home. The mountains leaned in close, whispered: Finally, someone who sees us.
She ain’t need no map to know this land was hers, yours, ours. She planted her flag in the soil of justice, grew a garden where the unseen could bloom. Y’all bring your laughter, your cookouts, your stories, she said, The parks been lonely without you.
She danced with the deer, spoke sparrow, fluent in squirrel. Taught bears to respect boundaries but never dreams. When the stars got shy, she reminded them to shine, to stretch their light across every corner where shadows once claimed victory.
Audrey knew nature don’t discriminate— it’s people who do. So she fought with a smile sharp as a hawk’s cry, said: Every trail is a revolution, every sunrise a protest song.
Now, when you walk through the pines, hear the laughter of those who once stood outside the gates, know this: She cracked the code, turned the key, made sure the wild could finally belong to you and me.
©️MustafaSantiagoAli