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 Roots to Rap
Rahiel Tesfamariam
Columnist Page
Friday, April 15, 2005; Page 21
The Biggest Burden Bearers
Last week marked the 25th observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, first proclaimed by President Reagan in 1981. The Office of Victims of Crimes helped lead communities across the country in their observances of the ceremony.
Representatives from community-based organizations and government agencies serving the District of Columbia gathered at the historic Lincoln Theater on Sunday, April 10, in celebration of the anniversary, in remembrance of Wanda R. Alston, former director of the District’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs.
Three days prior to the event, I received a phone call from Deborah Evans, mother of Kendra Mercedes Smith, a high school classmate of mine who was murdered on September 7, 2004, at the age of 23.
Throughout the years, many friends and acquaintances have been lost due to senseless violence and the grief of their family members was always seen from a distant place- but this time was different.
Reflecting on what would have been her daughter’s 24th birthday on April 5th and the seven month anniversary of her passing, Ms. Evans expressed a sorrow to me that made the tragedies taking place on the streets of D.C. seem more real than ever before. Yet, there was nothing that I could do or say.
A week later, her voice and tears still ring in my ears and I remain at a loss for words. A feeling of helplessness is left in my spirit because women like Ms. Evans possess strength and determination that is truly humbling.
Since words of encouragement seem insufficient, I now turn to the thoughts of a woman that I have long respected and admired to fill in the gaps. Months ago, I did an interview with Maya Angelou, planning to learn about the art of writing and journalism, but instead discovering the beauty of struggle and triumph.
The phenomenal woman that is Angelou said about our endless pain as a people and as Black women: “Society has never shown us [the positive aspects of who we are] but yet we have come along. Historically, White men are on top, White women after that, Black men after White women and at the very bottom Black women. We’re the people who have nursed a nation of strangers. We’re the people who have kept the church alive and kept the family alive. Historically, we’ve had to be strong and tough and tender, tough enough so that the world doesn’t take away your humanity and tender enough so that you don’t become a brut yourself.”
African and African American women have had to carry out this fierce fight throughout history, a fight that continues even today. Angelou believes that our strength comes from an inexplicable power to “weep and fall and somehow crawl and then in some way rise, stand and go on.” It is my hope that we never settle for being burden bearers. I pray that we instead, like Ms. Evans, continue to work towards laying down our heavy burdens without ever forgetting the scars they have left on our backs.
For Rahiel Tesfamariam send email to rahielt@washingtoninformer.com. |
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