Issue #674 Special Edition, Friday, July 19, 2024
One of my good friends, Darnell Anderson, is the founder and director of the Plowshares Theatre Company in Detroit. The mission of Plowshares is to preserve, present, and produce African American experiences that challenge minds and build community.
Plowshares Theatre Company Logo
Yesterday on Facebook, and without mentioning the Democrats or Trump/MAGA, he wrote this excellent parallel of where we are with how Wakanda found itself. during a time of crisis.
With Darnell’s permission, I am posting his essay in its entirety here.
I’m sure it will make you think.
Things look dire. It’s as if everything that could go wrong is going wrong. Our cause seems hopeless. The forces opposing us gleefully anticipate our defeat. Our champions are repeatedly defeated. There’s disunity in our ranks. We’re aimless.
But all isn’t lost.
Our current moment is that point in The Black Panther when T’Challa’s beaten body is tossed off the mountain cliff into the turbulent waters below.
Killmonger plans to destroy everything that the previous Kings of Wakanda have built up. Every tradition and institution will be bent to his will. He plans to use the technology and vibranium of Wakanda to spread his carnage.
Those parts of Wakandan culture Killmonger can’t change will be torn up and discarded. He doesn’t care how many people are harmed by his actions or how much strife and carnage he unleashes. He is only interested in exercising his will upon the world.
This is the moment when we have to decide who we are and what we believe in. This is the moment when we acknowledge what is at stake and act accordingly. We may have to build our coalition from unexpected corners. Former opponents will become present allies.
This will be the fight of our lives. Difficult decisions must be made. Our fears must be put behind us. Our only thoughts must be on winning.
This is where we are. This is our assignment. Nothing important was ever easy. This won't be either.
Remember, everything we want is on the other side of fear.
Get ready. Here we come.
After that RNC “Convention” and Trump’s disastrous speech, the Campaign Chair for Biden Harris 2024 confirmed that Joe is staying in the race, period. Supporting Joe and working to beat Trump and the MAGAs should be all we should focus on.
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