🧵“During the genocidal war in #Tigray…millions of families in were starved by a state sanctioned siege and the destruction of farms, tools, markets, and land by occupying forces.”
🧵 On his 95th birthday, I wanted to share some color photos of Daddy. It wasn’t that long ago… #MLKDay #MLK95 #MLK
“We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.” #MLKDay #MLK95 #MLK
“Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go out into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism, and militarism.” #MLKDay #MLK95 #MLK
Please don’t use my father to suggest or assert that #respectability cures #racism.
The white supremacy affirming racist discriminates against Black bodies whether the bodies are in sharp suits or sagging pants.
Lastly...my father was assassinated while dressed “respectably.”
I encourage engaging with respect.
But respectability (which is different) doesn’t cure racism.
And racism has no regard for either.
RESPECTFULNESS is about my standards for engaging earth and humanity. RESPECTABILITY is about me having to meet someone else’s standards in order for them to respect and not violate me psychologically, physically or systemically. And their standards are convenient for them.