LIVE PERFORMANCES BY PURPOSE

The path to freedom is tied to unity, but what does that five letter word mean? How do we come together? Why? This poem was inspired by the Beloved Commmunity Center in Greensboro, NC and the historic Long March for Unity & Justice across the state of North Carolina. I was there. I performed this poem a lot. It means a lot. It speaks to how we get free. I’m a queen no Latifah but I’m forever chanting:

U-N-I-T-Y!

STOP! WAIT! LISTEN! There’s a lot I could say about poem. I’ve performed it a lot. It’s honestly where Purpose was born. It’s when it finally sunk in that my words mattered, that they could make a difference. In high school I fought for the creation of a black student union, and for a black history program that truly spoke to all the aspects of black history. We fought and we won. This poem was our fight song. Our cry to be heard, hence the name. I think it did it’s job. This video is the most recent performance of the piece, but it was originally a duet piece. As I said I could say a lot, but I’ll stop here. Sending power, love, and peace to all who hear this poem.

This poem was inspired by the story of the strong black woman. I am she. So is my mother, my grandmother, my sisters, my cousins, my friends, my mentors, my inspirations, and maybe so are you. All strong black women. But sometimes being strong is exhausting and all you want to do is give up. Our strength is seen and admired, but where can we rest? This is poem is to say sis, I see you. These are your flowers. You deserve to rest. Don’t let them suck you dry. So, let these words pour into you like the good Lord intended.