Where Do We Go From Here and How Do We Get There?
It seems like we are currently in the worst timeline. We have entered a second Trump presidency and the catastrophic consequences have already begun. We are still in the midst of a pandemic, climate catastrophes are happening more frequently and getting exponentially worse, multiple genocides and atrocities are occurring simultaneously across the globe, and late-stage capitalism is impoverishing more of us than ever before. In moments like these, falling into despair feels inevitable.
Our first urge may be to seclude ourselves and succumb to the individualism that our society promotes. However, we must do the exact opposite of that. When we are isolated from one another, it is easier for the ruling class to subdue us and any threat that we may pose to their power. This is not to say that it is not acceptable to take time to grieve. We have lost an astronomical amount in what seems like such a short period of time. Hundreds of millions of people have been killed through imperial violence and state neglect, the destruction of ecosystems has made Mother Earth sicker than ever before, and the same people who are supposed to protect us are the ones who are responsible for this incredible amount of harm. Grief is a normal reaction to all of these things, and it is important for us to go through this process, but as stated in the book that inspired this article, Let This Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba, hope and grief can and do co-exist. As we grieve, we must also find the courage to actively hope that things can and will get better. From there, we can do our part to contribute because this work has never been passive.
As Black women, femmes, and gender-expansive folk, we have a rich legacy of radical Black feminist foremothers who envisioned a liberated future free of the many systems of oppression that we are currently bound by. They did not allow their imaginations to be limited by what legal systems, policies, and the general status quo say is possible. We are living in a time where neoliberal interpretations of Black feminist thought are stifling our ability to dream beyond electoral politics and carceral systems for a collectively liberated future.
So, what should we do? When thinking about all of this in its totality, it becomes very overwhelming because it is going to take a global movement with all hands on deck to fight against these interlocking systems of oppression. Most of us do not have the capacity or will to dive headfirst into that work. The good thing is that you do not have to. However, there are a few things that we can all do to resist the despair that this moment invites and to engage in daily acts of resistance and community-building.
Stay informed and educated: At this point, we should all understand that the social media platforms we use are operating on specific political agendas. Most are centrist at best and alt-right at worst. It is critical to identify high-quality news sources and to corroborate any information that you see with other sources. We are in an information war, and we must do what we can to win. Do not be afraid to pick up a book. You can make reading a communal activity by finding like-minded peers and starting an informal book club, or you can join one of the many online. Whatever you do, remember that knowledge is power, and once you have it, no one can take it away.
Engage in mutual aid: In layman’s terms, mutual aid is the collective coordination of community members to meet each other's needs in a way that the state fails to do. This action is especially significant for the most marginalized. Mutual aid is something that we already practice without really knowing about it. An example of this is when we give each other textbooks for free because of how unaffordable they are or when you give away a meal swipe because our institution fails to feed students who cannot afford the expensive meal plan. Intentionally engaging in mutual aid does not have to be a formalized operation. It can be sharing groceries among friends or checking in on your peers who have to commute to campus. Black people across the Diaspora have always practiced mutual aid, but for us, it just meant being in community with one another. Let’s get back to what works.
Join people who are doing the work you want to see: If you want to take a more hands-on approach, do a quick search and look up local organizations that are doing work that you are interested in. There is an organization or collective for just about any issue or cause that you can think of. Reproductive justice, food justice, prison and police abolition, gender justice, LGBTQIA+ justice, disability justice, racial justice, environmental justice, and more. You name it, someone is already doing the work. We do not always have to reinvent the wheel. When you are researching organizations that you are interested in, be sure to look at their values, mission, members, and founders to ensure they align with you. Do not be afraid to reach out and speak to someone to get more insight into their work. If everything looks good, it is time to begin getting involved and find where you fit in. If something feels wrong there is no shame in backing out, but you have to take that first step.
The most important thing that you can do at this time is to remember not to fall into despair. Do not listen to the nihilists who have decided that it is not worth trying anymore. They are people who are completely detached from the tireless work that activists and organizers are doing every day to resist state-sanctioned violence against marginalized people. Our counterparts in Congo, Sudan, Palestine, Tigray, Haiti, and everywhere suffering under colonialism, imperialism, and military occupation are continuing to resist and hope despite fearing bombings, shootings, famine, and terror. If they can continue to fight and advocate despite the countless obstacles in their way, those of us who are able to enjoy the privileges that being in the heart of the empire gives us have a responsibility to do the same. It will not be easy, but nothing worth having ever is. It is time to get to work.
My name is Gabrielle Cassell, and I am a sophomore Comparative Women’s Studies major, African Diaspora Studies, and Sociology Double Minor.
