they did not know we were seeds
My mom, two sisters, cousin and I were five in a crowd of over 500,000 women, men, and children at the Women's March on Washington. It was an emotional and historic day. Prior to the 2016 campaign of Hillary Clinton, I'd never been that involved in politics. I'd never attended a rally or protest. Never called my senator. I didn't even really watch the news all that much. All that has changed – I’ve found my voice that I’m proud to use it. The recent election and the current administration is not really about politics anymore, it is deeply personal. This is about who we are at our core. And thanks to the thousands of people who marched on January 21st – we showed the world who we are. We are resilient, we are fighters of injustice and hate and racism, we are accountability keepers for those in government, we are allies to those who need support, and powerful opposition to those who try and silence us. We are seeds.
The day of the march was long and when it came time to head back to our hotel, even though our feet were sore, we weren't quite ready to close our eyes. The natural high was too great a feeling to part with. We stopped in a bar to have a drink and talk about this movement we were now a part of. My sister was on her phone showing us photos and reading social media posts that people from all over the world had shared that day. She came across a tweet that quoted a Mexican proverb, "They tried to bury us; they did not know we were seeds." There was a collective exhalation as she read it. It summed up what we had experienced so perfectly.
I think about it each time I see people rise up and push back against attempted oppression. When I turn on the news and there's a little girl on her dad's shoulders at the international arrivals terminal holding a sign that reads 'You Are Welcome Here'. When I hear about the leaders of a Jewish congregation in a small town in Texas who gave the keys to their synagogue to the community of Muslims who lost their mosque in a fire. When I read that 40% of Democratic women plan to get more involved in political causes in 2017. When I see post after post on social media about the daily resistance actions of friends, and strangers alike. Each time I click the 'Follow' button on a rogue national wildlife account, or drop a postcard to my Senator in the mailbox (to either plead with or thank them) – I can actually feel the rising happening in real time. The collective resistance that we are engaging in each day in order to reclaim what's been taken from us, and hold the line for what we will not allow them to take.
I'm proud of every single person who has spoken out in ways big and small. Every word counts. We will not be buried. We will persist and succeed because this democracy is everything to us.
40% of the proceeds from the sale of my 'We Are Seeds' print will be donated to the Global Fund For Women.
The Global Fund for Women is one of the world’s leading foundations for gender equality, standing up for the human rights of women and girls. We campaign for zero violence, economic and political empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Our Vision is that every woman and girl is strong, safe, powerful, and heard. No exceptions.