There are multiple ways to heal and promote healing in the world. Art—literary, performance, and visual—tends to be a means for me. I think it's important for us to find the modes of operation that work best for us as individuals and lean into that. For when we each do our part, my what progress and change can come to fruition.
Overcoming Microaggressions
By Ashley Ellis
09/19/2024
I had a moment today
When I couldn’t hold back the tears
They started welling in the corner of my eyes
And I could feel my eyes beginning to coat
With all that was welling up within
All that I had been holding in
Not from the moment
But from the constant
From the build up
Of pain
So much pain
So much disappointment
Deep disappointment
Sadness
Finally
I just let myself release
I pulled down the shade covering of my window
And just let them fall
And just let them go
The tears
The microinsults
The microinvalidations
And the macro impact that they have had
Not just on me
But on our individual and collective humanity
The constant erosion of personhoods
The constant messaging of being less than
The wearing away of the soul, of the spirit
Until one’s name has been changed
One’s spine has been bent
One’s head hangs a bit lower
Vision a bit compromised
By the constant, incessant wearing away of senses of worthiness and belonging
Making it oh so difficult to walk freely in confident humility
Tempting one to work twice as hard or not at all
Knowing that neither really matter
Because the origin of the microassult, the microinsult, and microinvalidation
Was never based on reality
But rather rooted in oppressive ideologies and systems such as white supremacy and misogyny
So today
I let the tears fall
I released it all
I let the tears drop until they dried in the form of black strokes on a keyboard
I let them fall until there was nothing left but
Hope, perseverance,
And a commitment to keep going, healing and being healed
Knowing this is the work I’ve been called to do