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 eighth 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.
How do I pen a letter to the stars?
In the marrow of history's bones, we rise, Black voters, echoes of silenced cries, We dance with the ghost of democracy's lies, Yet our voices, they refuse to compromise.
We are the weavers of this nation's tale, Threads of resilience, never frail, In the crucible of injustice, we prevail, Our ballots like thunder, our ballots like hail.
From cotton fields to urban streets, Where our sweat and tears mark defeats, Still, we plant hope in the soil of dreams, For freedom's harvest, our hearts keen.
Listen! In our hymns of defiance, In the pulse of every ballot's reliance, We birthed democracy, a triumph of resilience, An anthem sung with unwavering brilliance.
We are the North Star, guiding this land, Through storms of hatred, we take a stand, For justice's embrace, we demand, In the sacred act of voting, we expand.
So heed the call of our collective voice, In this democracy, we claim our choice, For in our struggle, truth shall rejoice, Black voters, the heartbeat, the voice.
©️MustafaSantiagoAli
#Poetry #Election2024 #Biden #Trump #BlackVotersMatter