Dara Weems’ Post

Behind the scenes, whispers of influence persist, akin to the stories of Judas and Barabbas. These whispers endure, woven into the fabric of our world. Associations are drawn, conclusions reached, and innocent individuals caught in the crossfire. The intended sadness lingers, perpetuated by these connections. Now, let’s revisit the remarkable heroes who championed nonviolence: Martin Luther King Jr.: A visionary civil rights leader who tirelessly advocated for equality, justice, and peaceful protest. Mahatma Gandhi: The Indian independence movement leader who practiced nonviolent resistance (Satyagraha) to effect social and political change. Nelson Mandela: The anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South African president who championed reconciliation and unity. Harriet Tubman: An abolitionist and conductor of the Underground Railroad, guiding enslaved people to freedom. Dorothy Height: A tireless advocate for women’s and civil rights, emphasizing the power of nonviolent activism. Their legacies continue to inspire us, reminding us that positive change can be achieved through compassion, understanding, and unwavering determination." 🌟

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Today the U.S. celebrates and remembers the day the last slaves were set free-- nearly 2 and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, nearly 2 months after the Civil War ended, and almost a month after the Confederate military was disbanded in Texas. There were still people living and working in slavery for that long after they were technically freed, on paper. Leaders need to be committed to doing better in all aspects of their work, to work toward ethical practices and outcomes, and strive for justice within their realm of power. They also need to have a sense within themselves about the quote above from MLK, and to know that the work for justice is never finished. They also need to recognize and celebrate the wins, but also be sure not to center themselves when it's not about them. How you recognize and celebrate today depends on how much this holiday affects and is meant for you. Happy Juneteenth! Celebrate today, and get back to work making it better, tomorrow. If you feel led to give today, the African American Advisory Alliance was established in the midst of the racial unrest in 2020 in conversation with the City of Pomona, and "set the aim towards efforts of reconciliation and equity in our community." Learn more and donate here: https://www.pomona4as.com/ \#Juneteenth \#leadership \#history

As we commemorate Juneteenth, let’s reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s powerful words: "For more than a century of slavery and another century of segregation, Negroes did not find mass unity nor could they mount mass actions... But in the last decade, Negroes united and marched. And out of the new unity and action, vast monuments of dignity were shaped, courage was forged, and hope took concrete form." Dr. King's observations remind us of the critical role of class and mass actions in the fight for equality. These mechanisms allow marginalized communities to unify, amplify their voices, and challenge systemic injustices. June 19, 1865, marked the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy, a pivotal moment in the journey toward justice and equality. For those of us working in law, Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of the progress we have made and the ongoing commitment required to uphold justice for all. #Equality #Justice #CivilRights #Juneteenth

MOST people are silent about DEI being gutted because institutions hire DEI leaders to stop protests, and that’s the problem. Justice work is a living protest against injustice. Unpopular opinion here but there is deafening silence coming from people of color, and other underrepresented groups about the gutting of DEI initiatives because leaders selected by corporations to lead DEI aren’t leading with values, goals or initiatives that eliminate or even reduce inequity adequately. Case in point, most companies with Chief Diversity Officers still have gender and racial pay gaps. Gaping ones, after over a decade of equal pay “advocacy”. 🤢 People who truly want DEI justice are silent because if they speak out about their true expectations they invalidate the leaders in place for most institutional DEI initiatives. 🤕 Those DEI leaders are caught between a rock and a hard place. They have to make plans that don’t scare their bosses, white men and other white power adjacent people too much, and to do so, they sacrifice the needs, respect and vocal support of the underrepresented and vulnerable groups who they are supposed to be working for. The great sea change advocates for DEI are too silent to prevent double jeopardy for DEI leaders which removes the stick that drives MOST allies. In order to get everyone possible speaking in favor of DEI initiatives, the leaders of these movements need to be vulnerable, transparent, and open about what has failed in the past decade and present a vision that will get the actual beneficiaries of DEI initiatives to want to stand up and protest again. Unfortunately, DEI leaders are not hired to incite calls for justice, they are hired to quiet calls for justice. Institutions hire DEI leaders to stop protests, not lead them.

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, a significant day that marks the end of slavery in the United States and honors the enduring struggle for freedom and equality. This day is not just a historical milestone but a powerful reminder of the ongoing journey towards justice for all. Juneteenth, now recognized as a federal holiday, commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were now free—over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This day symbolizes the triumph of the human spirit over oppression and the relentless pursuit of liberty for all races. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. poignantly stated, other races "Have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny." These words underscore the interconnectedness of our freedoms and the shared responsibility to ensure that equality is not just an ideal but a reality for all. Let us honor Juneteenth by acknowledging the spirit of unity and the promise of freedom for every individual. ✊🏽🎉 #Juneteenth #FreedomDay #EndOfSlavery #EqualityForAll #HumanRights #JusticeForAll #Unity #CivilRights #FederalHoliday #EmbraceFreedom

Forget the fake ALLies! The supercilious speeches about DEI after seizing podiums were just fanciful ways of projecting superior moral values by men and women without powerful inner substance. When some brothers and sisters were stating how these speeches were making them hopeful that things were going to change, I suggested that all these speeches meant nothing and were meant to gaslight Black people. Many of our folks thought I was being too negative. I choose not to argue with them and waited. Now, history is just repeating himself. When one has reached my age, one has witnessed how people who has said they cared about fairness and diversity would fold when a little bit of negative pressure was being applied. We have been sleepwalking and begging for so long within European American power structures that we usually jump for joy when anyone offers us left-overs from sumptuous dinners that we were not invited to. The only way forward is to build our own power structures. There is enough money in Black communities for that. The money is being spent in companies that we don’t own, buying hair and beauty products from people who don’t respect us, or going to restaurants that won’t hire us. Why are we so unwilling to boycott companies owned by hostile bullyonaires? Why are we crying over affirmative action instead of just sending our smartest children and our best student athletes to HBCUs? Let’s make these schools OUR SAFE PLACES. Forget the pretenders. “They smile in your face”, all the time, they don’t want you to rise.

Inaction speaks louder than words.

The legislative bans on DEI initiatives spreading across the country will have crippling downstream impact on every aspect of society, but in my day-to-day work, I worry about how that will manifest in exacerbating already horrific health disparities. We should all be working to fight policies that harm the health and welfare of the population for whom these initiatives were meant to be but one step toward achieving equity.

Check out my new article. "Both Minister Malcolm X and Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. are oftentimes referred to as civil rights activists. Peniel E. Joseph, however, refers to them as revolutionaries, arguing “that Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. represent two black revolutionaries whose lives, activism, and political and intellectual thinking became blueprints for racial and economic justice advocacy around the world.” At its most basic, a revolutionary seeks radical change in society. This radical change also requires a significant shift in the way individuals and groups within society view themselves and their place in society and the world. Essentially, Min. Malcolm and Rev. King sought a radical change in the United States and in the world, calling for revolution: a Cultural Revolution. This article reveals that while Min. Malcolm and Rev. King championed political and economic change, they also advocated for Cultural Revolution among Black people, within the nation, and around the world. That is, they sought to shift the way people defined and understood human worth, dignity, and principles that guide their thoughts and actions." https://lnkd.in/ghWggPJT #malcolmx #mlk #culturalrevolution #civilrightsmovement #blackfreedommovement

Throwback to the 1963 March on Washington: A Defining Moment in the Fight for Equality On August 28, 1963, over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., in one of the largest civil rights rallies in U.S. history. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom brought together diverse voices demanding justice and equality for Black Americans. This rally was more than just a march; it was a statement of resilience, unity, and hope for a better future. At the heart of this historic event was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, a moment that echoed across the globe. King painted a vision of a world where people would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. His words still resonate today, reminding us that the fight for civil and economic rights is not confined to a single moment but an ongoing struggle for justice. The march succeeded in bringing national attention to issues of racial inequality, contributing to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was a testament to the power of peaceful protest and collective action. As we reflect on this pivotal moment, let's remember that dreams of equality must be backed by action and a commitment to dismantling injustice. #CNJAssociates #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #MarchOnWashington #CivilRights #EqualityForAll #BlackHistory #JusticeMatters #IHaveADream #DEI