02/17/2024
My mama gave birth to me on Valentine's Day 1987. Every birthday, I imagine her breathing and pushing....with a mighty faith in her body to bring me into this world. What fierce love. What optimism for my life.
Being born on a commercial day of love usually makes me search for deeper meaning on this ancient theme each year. In years past, I have steeped myself in the words of poets and authors like bell hooks Bell Hooks and , songs of musicians like and speeches of movement leaders , Rev. William Barber II, to pinpoint what Love will have me do in these times. This year, it's been Valerie Kaur.
With the genocide happening in Palestine, Sudan and Congo, war in Ukraine and the unraveling of oppression in the US, I honestly just felt depressed with grief and rage on my birthday sooooo tried to lean back in the comfort of Valerie Kaur's heart opening Sikh prayer for Revolutionary Love.
She asks "What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb?
What if our America is not dead but a country still waiting to be born? What if the story of America is one long labor?
Valerie reminds us to call on the wisdom of the midwife to breath and push and fight for the soul of America — “The land that never has been yet— And yet must be” (Langston Hughes) — with Revolutionary Love and relentless optimism.
When I first heard Valerie speak this prayer, I sobbed with relief. Her faith and imagination cracked me open:
"Because if we don't push we will die. If we don't push our nation will die. Tonight we will breathe. Tomorrow we will labor in love through love and your revolutionary love is the magic we will show our children." - Valerie Kaur,
This is this Valentine's baby's prayer, too.
Free Palestine 🇵🇸 so the world may be free.
I love you
Link in bio on Excel sheet of Palestinian families to support. Even adding a dollar to each one or several is tremendous.
🇵🇸
