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June 3, 2020

Black Lives Matter: Out of the Shadows and Into the Light

 

Out of the Shadows and Into the Light; Black Lives Matter

“There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part, you can’t even tacitly take part. And you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you’ve got to make it stop. And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless your free, the machine will be prevented from working at all. ”                                                 Mario Savio, Berkeley, California, 1964.

Savio, enunciated the hierarchical and bureaucratic nature of American society and the extreme racial injustices, the links between civil rights movements and the future for American youth. Today, decades later my skin tingles and my mouth tastes dry as my stomach jumps into my throat. I cannot speak, do I speak? I am most certainly listening and will do my best to move forward in the direction of reeducation and truth of heart, for we are all made of many colors but not one is more brilliant than the other.

As a SWF no matter what city in the world I’ve lived in I have always found sweet refuge on the north side. Yesterday, the birds sang out as children played. I walked through Mulgrave Park which is almost as far north as you can go here in downtown K’jipuktuk (Halifax). Life, laughter, legacy, and love danced around me as I took photos and felt welcomed. Color and beauty can be found as we know in the darkest of places; however it is our responsibility to walk out of the shadows and work toward the light. Let the light shine, for now is the time.

Mulgrave Park is home to the most bright and bold murals representing the community. With a playground and basketball courts at the center of this area the feeling of family and faith exude. View some shots from my walk to get a closer peak into this neighborhood nudged between two city bridges and curbside to the Halifax Harbor.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA8G8hMn4Du/

Karlyn O’Hanley

 

 

 

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