The Comedy Store stage @bow_market#Somerville thanking my activist family, extended A-Team & #chosenfamily for the support my 1st yr in Congress, as my godson looks on
I am 48yo & only recently started calling my father, Dad. It was a conscious choice as he has finally earned my trust after decades of absence & disappointments. Our relationship is finally genuine, not contrived, it is meaningful & safe. I feel loved & sacred in his presence.
My Dad, Martin is a retired college professor & published author. For decades the world was robbed of his brilliance due to the disease of addiction & I was robbed of his presence due to a legal system which criminalized his disease.
While incarcerated, Martin never stopped writing me. However, due to my own hurt, I stopped reading them but still saved them. However, I always read the books he sent & my love for poetry & the Harlem Renaissance is owed to his parenting from behind the wall.
Today is #Juneteenth. A holiday my family and I have celebrated for decades—but that has only been observed as an official federal holiday as of 2021.
Some may wonder, why does this day matter? Why is national recognition so significant, and so long overdue? 🧵
It matters because, as we celebrate Juneteenth—the day that marks the emancipation of my enslaved ancestors—it is a truth-telling reminder of our nation’s history and founding.
But it is also a reminder of what's possible.
When enslaved Black people and allies began the work of abolition, many considered the goal of freedom an impossible one.
May every child know the safety of a love like this. #HappyFathersDay to the best #GirlDad my husband, Conan. Cora has been nurtured by your love, covered by your prayers & inspired by your example. She is kind, smart, strong, confident, & knows her worth.
What a gift it has been to see your love deepen & your bond strengthen with each year.
I remember the care & pride you took w/doing her hair, carrying her on your shoulders, being the only one that could quiet her cries as a baby, your patience when teaching her to ride a bike or to solve a math problem. She will contd to grow & change but one constant remains.
She is the founder and CEO of Ramp Your Voice and has played a critical role in advancing nationwide conversations about the lived experiences of Black disabled women in America.
.@SeeMiaRoll is an activist, an elite athlete, and the Director of the Disability Justice Initiative at CAP.
She is incredibly skilled at calling the question that changes the conversation and pushing for data that drives action.
Willie O’Ree is a hockey legend, trailblazer, ice breaker, hero & activist whose powerful story is unknown to far too many.
We changed that today when the House passed our Willie O’Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act—the highest honor Congress can give a civilian. 🧵
Willie O’Ree is a descendent of enslaved people who made history with the @NHLBruins 64 years ago when he became the first Black player to play in the @NHL.
He played 45 games in the NHL & spent over 20 years in pro hockey—all while hiding the fact that he was blind in one eye.
Willie was a speedy left winger—but even he couldn't out-skate racism as the sole Black player in the NHL.
He faced fierce discrimination & even violence from fans & players alike.
Despite it all, Willie embodied resilience, grace, dignity & never gave up on his dream.