![]() So, with all that in mind: I hereby acknowledge the original caretakers of this land, from whom I probably descend, I don’t know. And I know that’s what it takes to make an Indian. But I have the blood in me somewhere, I’ve been told. Yes, I understand that I’m not “connected” to the “community,” nor do I know anything about the language, politics, mindset, circumstances, lifestyle, economic conditions, humor, or general citizenry of the Blackfoot or whoever. My great great grandmother was a Blackfoot or something I’m not sure. I’m part Native American myself you know. And is it incredibly unfair that while I inherited the privilege, the contemporary Natives of this land inherited all the darkness that comes with a couple/few hundred years of trauma and terror? OF COURSE. Do I directly benefit from the enslavement and genocide of the original people of this land? Absolutely. Especially this time of year.īut for me, I’m staying. And hopefully, THEY make the hard choice and go back to Europe. ![]() I’ll do everything in my power to make sure my children will feel nice and guilty about the whole thing. But why should I or my children pay for the sins of my forebears? We didn’t commit the murders upon which this country was built. My family has been here for tens or even dozens of years. Would it possibly be the right and noble thing to do to pack it up and go back to Europe? Absolutely. You’re welcome.įurthermore, I hereby pledge to do everything in my power, with the exception of giving up my power and privilege, to ALWAYS acknowledge the poor dark bastards who’ve propped my family up. A lot of brown people died for me to get to where I am today. And that privilege doesn’t come from nowhere. Because in being in front of you here tonight, I’m privileged. And, if they didn’t kill the original people of this specific place HERE, then I’m sure they did their damnedest to some other tribe. In the spirit of this acknowledgement, I should also note that I have no real idea whether or not my VERY RECENT ancestors had anything to do with the deaths of the original inhabitants of this land. We acknowledge the ostentatiousness of saluting the people whose blood and spirits originally came from this land, but who my ancestors, directly or not, surreptitiously killed. ![]() We here at the ( insert organization here ) acknowledge the first peoples of this land, the ( insert Native nation here ). Listen to Migizi Pensoneau read this poem.We’re also on the wings of our ancestors. It does not mean that we cannot get across this mountain together.” That togetherness is paramount. “It does not mean that we can’t rewrite some of those rules. This is the game that we are playing,” she says. James hopes the book illustrates how she’s worked within a constricted system. Wildflower (Crown) details a tumultuous upbringing-after relocating to Jamaica as a child, she watched her mother, James’s earliest fashion inspiration, suffer domestic abuse-and the eventual solace she found in creativity. And this month, with the release of her memoir, she adds author to her list of credentials. She was responsible for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Tax the Rich” dress at the 2021 Met Gala. The creative director and founder of the brand Brother Vellies, beloved for its artisanal accessories that maintain African design practices-Zendaya and Beyoncé have both walked red carpets in the brand’s footwear-is the one who came up with the Fifteen Percent Pledge, a nonprofit dedicated in part to encouraging retailers to stock Black-owned brands. But the Toronto-born, New York–based 38-year-old is already doing a lot. “I still have so much work to do,” says Aurora James.
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