This past Saturday we gathered to consider Cuba. After the passing of Fidel Castro some of us thought first of Assata Shakur. This session was an opportunity to bring the writing and relationships of US based Black Feminist writers, editors and activists (especially Toni Cade Bambara, Farah Jasmine Griffin, Cheryll Greene, Assata Shakur, Alexis De Veaux and Audre Lorde) into our process of reflection. We noticed that like generations of Black women we have strong desires, forms of longing and vulnerability attached to Cuba. We used those reflections to clarify our sistering in this moment. Here is the poem we made.
If you want to participate in the last online workshop of the year The Evidence Intensive: Futurists Beyond Fear, check it out here.
Free-er Than We Knew
We Could Be
By the participants in the “Without Bridges” US-based Black Feminists on/in/around/with Cuba Webinar
“Sister is a verb.” Toni Cade Bambara
After “Sister in Exile” the first interview with Assata Shakur after her escape by Cheryll Y. Greene in Essence.
(Inspired by Toni Cade Bambara, Farah Jasmine Griffin, Cheryll Y. Greene, Assata Shakur, Alexis De Veaux and Audre Lorde)
Sister in trust
Sister in listening and holding space
Sister in unconditional acceptance
Sister in distance
Sister in showing up
Sister in living healthy and free
Sister in loving ourselves
Sister in seeing and freeing ourselves from our prisons
Sister with egos aside
Sister in showing our scars
Sister in learning from the ugly
Sister in discernment
Sister in more freedom than we used to
Sister in real rest
Sister in honoring the invisible work
Sister in sweetness
Sister in joy
Sister in gratitude
Sister even in silence
Sister in love
Sister in silliness
Sister in survival truths
Sister in finding our purpose
Sister in availability to purpose
Sister in places we never thought we would be
Sister in life in collaboration
Sister in a way that teaches me to be better to my own heart
Sister in telling each others stories
Sister in shareable salvation