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 ninth 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 event
I trust Black women because their spirits are the roots of trees, deep and unyielding, drawing strength from a history soaked in resilience. Their laughter, a balm for wounds unseen, a chorus of defiance against a world that too often tries to erase their names.
I trust Black women because they are the architects of tomorrow, laying foundations with hands calloused from the labor of love and liberation.
Their eyes, mirrors reflecting both the pain and the promise of generations, hold stories that ripple through time. Each glance a testament to survival, each word a seed planted in the fertile soil of possibility. Black women are the keepers of ancient wisdom, the carriers of traditions forged in fire and tempered by the tears of those who came before.
In their embrace, I find sanctuary, a place where the world's harsh edges soften, and the wounds inflicted by ignorance are healed. Their voices, resonant and unwavering, cut through the noise of oppression, demanding justice with every syllable. I trust Black women because they are the heartbeat of our communities, the pulse that keeps us moving forward, even when the path is steep and strewn with obstacles.
It is in this trust that I see the future, and it is embodied in Kamala Harris. Her presence, a beacon of hope, a signal that the dreams of our ancestors are not in vain. She carries the torch passed down through generations, a flame ignited by the fierce determination of Black women who refused to be silenced.
Kamala stands on the shoulders of giants, her path illuminated by the light of those who paved the way with courage and conviction. In her, I see the culmination of a struggle that is both personal and political, a testament to the power of belief and the strength of solidarity.
I trust Kamala Harris to lead us, not because she is perfect, but because she understands the weight of her legacy, the responsibility of her position.
Her journey is a reflection of the collective resilience of Black women, a story written in the margins of history now brought to the center stage. She embodies the hopes of a nation longing for change, the dreams of children who see in her a future where their voices are not only heard but celebrated.
I trust Kamala because she knows the taste of struggle, the flavor of injustice, the necessity of perseverance. She is the embodiment of what is possible when we trust in the strength and wisdom of Black women, when we acknowledge their rightful place at the helm of leadership.
In this trust, I see a nation reborn, a promise of equality finally realized. I trust Black women because they are the soul of this country, the guardians of its conscience, the stewards of its future. And in Kamala Harris, I see that trust coming to fruition, a beacon of hope guiding us towards a more just and equitable tomorrow.
@MustafaSantiagoAli
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