But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. 1 Cor 15:10.
The passing of time, the awareness of space, the surrender to purpose. Even, when I am scared, when my speech gets muffled, when I cry myself to sleep; the grace was not in vain.
NORMALCY (NOT)
| Normalcy (not) • Yesterday I shared some introspection about living with a disability, and that ‘normalcy,’ is not, in my opinion, the ultimate goal. (This took 30 years, because at the surface, normalcy seemed like resolve and the best case scenario for so long.) The truest form of success is experiencing ones self and others with embrace and understanding. Living within underrepresented, devalued, and disregarded intersections ( Black, Woman, Disabled ) comes with its share of challenges, but it is not an identity to ‘overcome. ‘ It is spiritually, emotionally, and physically exhausting to be labeled as a ‘fighter.’ Is it a fight, or is this my life? Progress, movement, and strength comes from living through, living with, and finding ones space.
Environmentally, culturally, and socially we have so much work to do. No longer, do we want to consistently have to ‘prove,’ our value in order to sit at tables, that were built on an prejudicial status quo.
This is just a snippet of my story. Stories have power. Stories change things. Stories kill stigmas. Stories challenge the status quo.
Black History • 365.
PACE
| Pace. • Today, I spoke at a global disability inclusion event for my firm. They shared my piece on @refinery29, and I’m sure I blushed a bit. As each moment comes and goes, and I no longer run from purpose, I lean into the voice that is uniquely mine. I don’t know if I’ve said here how nervous I feel every time I speak in front of a large audience. My speech impediment will never go away, my Cerebral Palsy isn’t leaving either. These stories, I tell. These stories I paint.
Today is MLK Day, the streets are closed, windows boarded, and it is a scary time, as it has been, to be Black in America. Inclusion matters, awareness is not optional. Stories evoke change, so let’s do this.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Does your company have the range? Are you doing more than marketing? Are you putting money toward learning and ensuring that people are seen, heard, and valued? Are you willing to change when it’s not convenient? Are you listening?
Stories evoke change, so let’s do this.