Not going to lie, everyone, I'm pretty emotional writing this message. These last 2 months have shaken and shaped my new world. May 25, I watched along with you, with the world, as George Floyd was murdered by members of the Minneapolis Police Department in Minneapolis, Minnesota. George Floyd was 46 years old and as he took list last breath, he called for his Mama. Mama's of Black Youth like me, everywhere heard his call.
Just like you, I was at home, living a pandemic life, filing for unemployment online, watching too much Netflix and not finishing a single project that I set out to complete during isolation nation. I was tuned in to social media, 24/7, it was my escape to socialization. I remember feeling like I should be really happy that I was taking this break, I felt like I knew I was going to regret not enjoying it. That despite an actual global pandemic going on, shit was about to really go down.
Fast Forward 2 months later and my garden is basically dead, my kids are probably never going to go back to school the same ever again and I'm a FULL TIME ACTIVIST
There is no other option for me.
I am a Black Womxn
I am a Queer Womxn
I am happily in love and in a civil union marriage with the sexiest Trans Masculine Human
I am a mother to a Black Son
I am a mother to a Queer Youth.
As a parent, a wife, I don't have the luxury of toxic positivity and wasted time with performative allies. The days of tokenism and tolerance are over. In order for me to accept the call, I needed to dig deep, call myself out for complacency, renegotiate my life path. I needed to strip down to the core of my life work in dismantling biases and discrimination for Womxn, the 2SLGBTQ+ community and Black People. I needed to look at how my work in advocacy for the homeless, abused and marginalized folx was progressing in my community. I needed to renegotiate my activism and do MORE. You see, I won a couple awards, found a soul mate and went back to the 9-5 grind, leaving not a lot of time after being a Mom for anything else. I also got really tired, my mental health was up and down. I was living in self-doubt and pity. I thought no one would miss me. I could just quietly disappear, start a new life. We (Trace and I) could put everything that we have experienced behind us and find PEACE.
"MAMA!"
"I can't BREATHE"
"I can't BREATHE"
"Lucius, you Okay? "
“Peanut, was that you?"
I woke up in sweats, tears. I couldn't sleep for nights on end. I received calls from other Black friends, crying, sobbing for someone they never met, because he was NO Stranger, George Floyd was ALL of our SONS, George Floyd was US.
I have had quite the journey of growth in these last 2 months, so much to share over the coming weeks.
I have attended 7 protests in 2 months with 1 more planned for August 22, 2020 (https://www.facebook.com/events/801079330634217)
I have founded the first Social Service Not for Profit for the Black community in Simcoe/Muskoka Counties (http://upliftblack.org)
Making Change (Co-founded with Michele Newton and Stephanie Gourlie) has officially become a Not for Profit organization dedicated to educating the community about Black History and Experiences. (makingchangesc.com)
The Woman's Advocacy Council within the Women and Children's Shelter has reached out to rectify their lack of melanin and asked me to join their council. Representation Matters so I said yes. (https://barrieshelter.com/wac/)
I am working to create an activism mentorship program that caters to smaller cities and townships outside of urban city centres. A "how to" for those who want to activate their allyship but don’t have the same resources offered to them in larger more equitably funded communities. Stay tuned to find out more.
I am speaking to whoever will give me a platform to share the experiences of my family when it comes to homophobia, transphobia, racism and sexism, as well as my experiences as a homeless mom, an abused woman and a sexual assault survivor. My story is compiled with a call for change and a message to ALL who dare to challenge the happiness, freedom and health of my family and community members in need...
I am no longer distracted.
I am loved and supported
And….
I am calling YOU out,
Not stopping until change is made and love, justice and freedom is available for ALL or until I take my last breath.
Rest in Power George Floyd ✊🏾 and to all those who have chosen to help support me in my fight, Thank you.
-ACTIVIST SHELLY
Coming soon (activistshelly.com)