‘We have come this far and we won’t turn around – we’ll flood the streets with justice we are freedom bound’ – Jane Adams this isnt just a quote, its a song. it isnt just a song, its an invocation. i first learned it at about 6am on Dec. 1, 1999. it was a remarkable experience, a song sung in the right time and place that changed me forever. It was the day after we shut down the WTO meetings in Seattle. My affinity group was up before dawn and back downtown with no idea what was going to happen. people we kinda trickling through the streets, heading nowhere in particular. we came around a corner and found a large group, maybe 100 people and growing quickly, slowly walking in a circle. But this was different. Ive been to lots of demo and rallies. It was even different from the day before. There was a powerful presence. Folks were walking slowly in a big circle, filling the intersection. The energy was slow, but strong, persistent. And then i realized they were singing. that is to say there was a song swirling around the circle. It didnt just come from the people, it came from the past. It came from, and called to, generations of resistance. One other key piece to this picture... it was almost entirely a black crowd. all day on the streets the day before, Id mostly been around and seen white folks. there were lots of people of colour, dont get me wrong, but this was different for me. it was humbling and beautiful. And most importantly, I felt the touch of the generation that have sung this song. I share this story now because i just remembered the the lyrics after weeks of aching to recall it - ever since hearing samuel jacksons challenge to spread the resistance to the racist police. i cant find a good, soulful version of the song that touched me, so im sharing samuel l. jackson singing in the same spirit. see yall in the streets! https://youtube/watch?v=dsAk54bdGnk
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:43:15 +0000
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