In the way I believe, colonization is rooted in racism. If we were ever to be truly free, we must be willing to do the very difficult task of decolonizing and detaching from the very thing that keeps us enslaved. It isn’t my work to teach the racist how not to be one. Racism to me is a spirit much like greed, envy, and malice. It’s an unhealthy, addictive and intoxicating spirit. I find that people who believe in it are so deeply confirmed in it, they have no desire to let it go.
My dear, beautiful Africans in America, I know that we are tired of this racist environment that has caused so much pain and distress since its inception. I know that we are weary from being captives in a society that uses our bodies, intellect, and creativity as the table it eats upon, with no consideration for our humanity. I also know that we must help dismantle it, detach from it, and heal. I also know that there is no such thing as a one size fits all when it comes to healing. Sometimes healing is through the tests of Esu, the winds of Oya, the fire of Shango, the coolness of Obatala, the wisdom of Orunmila, the strength of Ogun, the sweetness and comfort of Osun, the generosity of Olokun, and much much more. I do not sit in judgement of how any of us are processing this moment in time, because I trust in Divine providence and destiny.
My work is to continue to decolonize my mind, spirit and body from this destructive force that does not serve balance to me. My work is to stand graciously in honoring the knowing that my Egungun passed to me, which lives through the memories encoded in my DNA. My work is to love us, to love everything that is decent, diverse, and wholesome about us. My work is to do what I can to help uplift us, by creating an environment of awareness and accountability in my home, with my family, with my tribe, and with my community.
May Olodumare bless us to walk in goodness and stand in truth. Ase! May we have the support of Ori, Egbe, Egun, Ifa, Irunmole and Orisa to do what we are meant to. Ase!
Ifayinka 