The Elements of Decolonial Healing Justice
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our relationships to each
other and the earth are in deep trouble
they’ve been for a long time from the
horrors of the slave trade
a world built through genocide and
colonization
to the destruction of our environment
we’re living in times of perpetual
crisis
inequalities and human made disasters
the caribbean sea and these islands bear
witness
to extraction exploitation
dependence vulnerability
and new kinds of colonial rule
colonialism still impacts us today even
if we don’t
fully see it we have
some serious healing to do from
ourselves
to communities to institutions
and the hard truth is we’re not free
and we need serious change
i believe we start first with ourselves
deliberately with self-care that extends
to community
healing not selfish
self-care but care of self
for community care
that attends to past traumas and
injustice
care that is political care that
embraces
all this is my vision
for decolonial healing justice
you see we were born with the fierce
power of our ancestors outrageousness
and audacity
to survive i am woman
black feminist caribbean and queer
i’ve been womanish long time and so i
dare to imagine a world where people of
color
can be human and free
i dream revolution and liberation
sexually spiritually and radically
i come from poor and working-class
struggle
i come from black mothers grandmothers
and aunties who worked hard to make sure
i could do the things
they couldn’t and i worked extra hard to
make it happen
for myself and for those who sacrificed
for me
and before me i remember
shame of being poor of domestic
and working-class jobs of broken
families
and secrets of addiction abuse
and too much violence
i am a survivor and no longer
ashamed
audre lorde says self-care
is self-preservation and an act
of political warfare so for me
decolonial healing justice begins
with radical acts of self-care and
intentional
black love extends to healing wounds of
our past that affect us still
healing family violence and
loving embracing blackness
and queerness now this
is octave struggle against racism
sexism homophobia transphobia
classism and other forms of hate and
control
this means releasing self-hate
breaking silences about harm and abuse
this means working on myself as much as
i work
on anything else
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this is not easy it’s hard and messy
work ongoing and sometimes painful
but change starts with healing
of bodies mind spirits to
community to the planet
and so change must be guided by an
intersectional
feminist politics a consciousness of
race class ethnicity gender
sexuality ability and origin
and understanding and respecting of all
our differences and a fearless
demand for accountability
decolonial means not just understanding
that colonialism
still affects us but also
challenging systems of oppression and
uncovering
pathways from our ancestors
we must revisit update and activate
knowledge for our future survival
these pathways are spiritual and
sexual healing empowerment of self
community care and working
for justice and freedom
everything is connected and so change
begins with self
to create radical sustainable
change to be in community
means being honest with self and being
accountable
to each other and every person
around us for us in the caribbean
i believe we need a reckoning we must
change oppressive structures that do not
serve
the majority we must confront
power and privilege silences
about race class anti-blackness and
colorism
we must reject respectability and
harmful gender norms
embrace spiritual practices of our
ancestors
and build a regional identity
with indigenous and first peoples
at the center
these are my reasonings for decolonial
healing justice five elements
burn resist act
care and elevate
number one burn
regeneration renewal cosmic fire
dismantle destroy everything
burn it down let go of all we think
we know purge harmful beliefs
and release be passionate
about recreating every part of self
to every living flame
soul restoration through creativity
and meaningful solidarity be ready
for spirit earth work
number two resist
deconstruct colonial lies believe
deeply in self and the ancestors who
made
our survival possible
find your place your work what you are
here
to do guided by spirit
learn from discomfort defy white
supremacy and any system
of control number three
act create warrior vibrations and
protection like metal
secure self for community
and nature connection
restore creative spiritual and sexual
self as a priority
activate radical honesty and gratitude
be as strong fierce and bold as our
rebellious
ancestors rooted in defiance and
revolutionary
struggle be ready for war
number four care
compassion and empathy like the power of
water
the ability to transform and be both
vulnerable
and invaluable engage
intentional practices of self-care
and share these in community flow with
joy
love hope laughter dance and poetry
be the inspiration for change that
replenishes
number five elevate
walk with spirit blessings and take
flight channel abundance through
creative frequencies
and soar let the power of our ancestors
speak through
you and use their power
inhale deep swells of knowledge
within and around us
let our wings expand and be deliberate
in our healing for justice
this is brace challenging us
to seek rebellion and joy
to listen to each other ourselves
and the earth to make furious
and beautiful our survival
let us brace rejuvenate
with self-care learn from the past
and rebuild our communities and
transform
our world create
healing justice
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you