Enough Already!

Enough Already!

Ecologists tell us that a young tree grows better when it’s planted in an area with older trees. The reason, it seems, is that the roots of the young tree are able to follow the pathways created by former trees and implant themselves more deeply. Over time, the roots of many trees may actually graft themselves to one another, creating an intricate, interdependent foundation hidden under the ground. In this way, stronger trees share resources with weaker ones so that the whole forest becomes healthier.

That’s legacy: an interconnection with the ancestors across time, with a need for those who have come before us and a responsibility to those who come after us. Chrysalis Lab believes legacy is fundamental to what it is to be human, offering a glimpse and guide to our relationships, our communities, and our very sprit. And so we will honor our ancestors through our work, and, on a regular basis, by featuring their voices in our blog.

This blog is a gift from Mama Eva, 97-years young and a new author. It is almost unfathomable to consider what she has seen and heard in her time on this earth! The question we posed to her: What are you thinking and feeling about what is happening in today’s society? See her answer below.

My Lord! How much longer must my people have to suffer before they experience this metamorphosis—this radical chrysalis that our authors tell us must take place before there can be racial equality for Black and Brown folk?

I have in my lifetime (of 97 years) been victimized in so many instances of racial injustice and abuse. My schooling for grades one – six was held in a two-room classroom with only two instructors! To make matters worse, I have seen my best friend with a broken leg as she was practically thrown from a Woolworth counter.

Now with this COVID-19 pandemic overshadowing the nation and the world, we find the situation has become even more grave—”stay in your home, wear masks, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, work from home, etc.” We have learned that the “Black and Brown” population is known to be more susceptible to this virus. In addition, their economic insecurity forces them out of their houses daily to perform menial jobs.

So like Kim and Lesley, I declare “Enough already!” Let’s bring on this metamorphosis, the long–delayed transformation of this existing oppressive system.