I thought it was important to share my words from the Boston Women’s March. One, because so many of you joined me in spirit on that stage.
Thank you, Gracias, to my sister Queen Chioma, my sister hermana Vanessa and my HER project leader Rocio for joining me, standing with me, dancing with me and raising your voices with me. Your energy and love will make this an unforgettable moment.
I have received wonderful messages since the march from many I know and others that were present for our ‘disruption.’The common comment has been, ‘I saw you on the news jumping up and down.’
The second reason I wanted to share my words and the video is because that vibration was not planned. I am calling that moment on the stage an ancestral driven moment. I heard the introduction, we saw the crowd and we went about it in the most African, African American and Afro Panamanian way.
Yes, we were jumping up and down in the spirit of disruption. We pulled the crowd in without planning any of it because we were moving with our ancestral light. The moment was right. The only thing missing was a drum or our warrior stick but the words did that and our deep loving vibration added a taste of honey. We fisted up in our revolutionary way, truly combining what it is or looks like for African women of the Diaspora.
A big shout out to Brother Cisco for capturing this moment on video. Gracias!
Thank you to March Forward Massachusetts for a strong step towards inclusion. Thank you to Janet Santos and the Boston Women’s Fund for inviting me to speak at the Women’s March Breakfast.
Thank you all who supported me leading up to this light filled moment. Thank you all for your ongoing support.
Peace and light,
Yvette Lepolata Aduke Modestin
‘Me gritaron Negra’
Y yo respondí,
Si, Orgullosamente Negra
I rise up in the spirit of Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou, my mother, Audre Lorde, Victoria Santa Cruz de Peru. Sonia Pierre de Santo Domingo, Berta Cáceres de Honduras and Mirielle Franco of Brazil.
I stand here in the spirit of Black women, African American women, low income women, black women activist and gentle warriors who are at the center of this movement who wear their crown fearlessly
I send light to our African sisters and mothers who have died fighting for liberation
I stand her in the spirit with my young women of the HER Project
Digo Presente con la luz de mujeres negras, mujeres afro, afro latinas
I stand here with the light of all the soulful men, black men, brothers, hermanos who join us on this call
I stand here in the spirit of my sister hermanas who are here to disrupt for real change to happen
And most importantly, I stand here Unapologetically Black
Queens!
Mi reinas!
Stand strong in your space
Know your worth
Dance in it
Shine in it
Break down walls in it
I’m a black woman in this world
Black Latina immigrant Presente!
I will not bow my head for you
The crown they gave me is heavy and filled with pride
Unity
Hear me
Hear my truth
If you play any part of oppressing those who look like me,
Then we cannot sit at the same table
It is Time to disrupt with love, clarity and purpose
If we are not at the table then you are not having the real conversation
It is time!
It is time for us to figure this out
Racism has been a part of this women’s movement
It is time to be intentional so that it doesn’t repeat itself
It is time to listen.
We can speak for ourselves for we are at the front line of this struggle
We have always led the way
We are here to stay
We are at a crucial crossroad, women, all women, women of color, allies to sit at the table and hear each other and build together
build together while making sure that no one is left behind
No one is above anyone
No one is seen less than
And specifically that black women, African women, Black Latinas are seen in their human light in the righteous light in their magical light.
I believe that those that look like me, that come from that same fabric, that same root should have the best of the best wherever we are standing and whatever language we speak
We will continue to fight for that and speak truth to that because that is love, that is what love looks like.
Asi es!
No voy a parar de hablar nuestra verdad
Porque esto es amor
Esto es vida
Esto es Negrura!
I love this skin, I love the story that comes with this root,
My tree has been shaken hard but not broken
We are Under attack and still rising with love, pain and resiliency
To heal is to speak this truth
To grow is to speak this truth
May we meet at the crossroad and build an inclusive agenda
May we rise fearlessly
May we continue speaking a truth that changes these harsh times
May we stand in light and love
‘Me gritaron negra’
Y yo respondí
Si orgullosamente negra
Nacida y criada en Colon, Panama
Ashe!
Video- https://youtu.be/q795wuN4qpY
News Coverage - https://www.wcvb.com/article/womens-march-held-in-boston-common-but-tone-different-from-years-past/25963645
