There's loss in this fight.
Unity in this cause will bring separation between you and those you love.
You have to be willing to lose something when you take a stand.
There’s pain in this fight.
There’s hurt.
There’s sacrifice.
There’s loss.
And if you do it right, if you're exhibiting true solidarity...
You’re going to lose something.
Unification in this cause will cost you.
A friend.
A job.
Respect.
Family.
You speak truths ears don’t want to hear, you will lose.
You shut down lies mouths speak, you will lose.
You march alongside those whose hurt is caused by those with skin or privileges like yours, like yours, you will lose.
You actively work to dismantle systems you benefit from, you will lose.
You will lose in this work, and that’s when you know you’re doing it right.
Simply showing up isn’t work. Us looking at you in our spaces isn’t work. Blacking your profile squares isn’t work. Hashtags isn’t work. Trendy metaphors...is not work.
They teach you that unity heals.
But it also hurts.
Unity creates loss. Because what we need you for means you are bucking everything you were taught was true in your life, all that you benefit from, and you’re saying, “no more.”
You will know loss.
And you will know pain.
This ain’t easy work.
I remember when I read this somewhere. It stuck with me even though I couldn't quite understand what it was saying at the time. I stumbled upon it when looking up something about to share in this space.
But I couldn't let go of these words. What exactly were they saying? What did it mean that there was loss in this fight. That unity hurts.
As I grew more and more in advocacy, I began to realize what it was that whoever wrote this was saying. And then I tried to replicate it with the same amount of wisdom they put out into the world.
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