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 sixteenth 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
There is a power in choosing, a force that shapes the very fabric of our existence. We, the descendants of those who were stripped of choice, now stand at a crossroads where the weight of our decisions reverberates through time. We choose, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. We choose the light, even when the darkness lingers, because we understand that light is not just the absence of shadows, but the presence of clarity, the illumination of truth.
In this moment, we choose hope. Hope is not a passive wish, but an active resistance against the forces that seek to diminish us. It is the seed we plant in the barren ground of despair, knowing that it will take root and grow, even in the most hostile of environments. Hope is the legacy of those who came before us, who dreamed of a world they could never fully see, but who believed in it nonetheless.
We choose joy, not as a fleeting escape, but as a deliberate act of defiance. Joy is our birthright, a reminder that even in the midst of struggle, we are entitled to moments of pure, unadulterated happiness. It is the laughter of children who have not yet learned the weight of the world, the dance of elders who move with the grace of those who have seen too much and yet, still find reasons to smile.
Love, too, is a choice we make. Not the superficial love that is easy to give and take away, but the deep, abiding love that binds us together in the face of adversity. It is the love that refuses to let go, that holds on even when it is painful, even when it seems impossible. This love is the foundation upon which we build our future, the glue that holds our communities together, the force that drives us to fight for a world where all are seen, all are valued, all are loved.
And so, we choose Kamala. We choose her not just as a leader, but as a symbol of what is possible. She is the embodiment of our collective aspirations, a beacon of hope in a world that has too often tried to snuff out our light. In her, we see the potential for a future that is more inclusive, more just, more reflective of the diverse tapestry of humanity.
We choose a brighter today and tomorrow, because to choose anything less would be to betray the sacrifices of those who came before us. It would be to deny the future that we owe to our children, a future where they can walk without fear, speak without silencing, dream without limits. This choice is not just for us, but for the generations that will follow, for the world we want them to inherit.
In choosing, we reclaim our power. We declare that we will not be passive observers of our own lives, but active participants in shaping our destiny. We choose to rise, to fight, to love, to hope. We choose the light because we are the light. We choose hope because we are the hope. We choose joy because we are the joy. We choose love because we are the love.
And in this choosing, we forge a path forward—a path that is lit by the brilliance of our ancestors, the resilience of our present, and the promise of our future. We choose, because it is in the choosing that we define who we are, and who we will become.
©️MustafaSantiagoAli
#Poetry #Essay #ProudBlue #Resist #HarrisWaltz2024 #Joy #KamalaHarris2024 #Fresh