An original and stirring, slow-moving gospel-style piece, this work uses text from Rita Williams-Garcia’s poem, We the People, published in the collection We Rise, We Resist, We Raise our Voices, (2019 by Just Us Books). Contributors to this book answer the question: What do we tell our children when the world seems bleak, and prejudice and racism run rampant?
We must stand up through our words, voices, and art, and through our willingness to right wrongs in our own lives.
Be of service to your family. Be of service to your community.
You must know and believe that you are the future.
We, the People
It is my honor and privilege to reach out to you during this time of uncertainty and distress to offer a few words of encouragement.
Know this: we as a people and as a nation have survived uncertainty, unjust and unequal treatment at the hands of the powerful.
Our histories are stories of overcoming, with an eye on opportunity and freedom, even during the worst times.
In this nation we can lift our voices.
We must stand up through our words, voices, and art, and through our willingness to right wrongs in our own lives.
I encourage young people to be of service to yourselves by honoring your minds and bodies and by taking steps to build upon your many dreams.
Be of service to your family. Be of service to your community.
Reject ignorance. Ask the hard questions.
Be of ultimate service to the nation.
All of us. Not some of us.
You must know and believe that you are the future.
With the challenge of making ourselves, our families, our communities a living and perfect union.
Provide a future that ensures the rights, pursuits and liberties of you.
We, the People.