"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi
Have you
Ever have a dream
That you're willing
To pay the ultimate price
Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr?
Knowing
Your dream is
Bigger than
Any one person
Or organization.
Radically challenging
Society's paradigm
With its simple message
Of love and equality.
For many transpeople
Our very existence
Is a testament
To our community's dream
Of acceptance and equality.
Just stepping
Into a public space
Is truly
An act of courage.
Aware
In doing this
May mean
A death sentence.
As Canada
And the United States
Celebrate Black History Month
Throughout February.
The struggle
For human rights
Isn't just limited
To ones:
Skin colour
Religious observation
Gender
Or sexual orientation.
Rather
Involves everyone
For no one
Is truly free.
If one person
Remains repressed
In any manner.
And you
Dr. King
Your dreams
Still
Lives on.
Only
It's shared
By a wider community.
Who's hearts
Are filled
With its vision.
Therisa © 2016
Therisa © 2016
Author's note: Although, I was born, into a white, middle class Canadian family, I have known, what it means, to live your life, in abject poverty. Having spent time, in the Toronto women homeless shelter system. Not a place, I want to go back to, again.
Like the Afro communities, of Canada and the United States, the Trans community knows, all too well, what the phrase, "strange fruit", which Billie Holiday sang about. Having your application rejected for housing, because, the landlord wasn't comfortable, with having "one of those tenants". As if, all trans-people work the street or use drugs. Never mind, the hidden crisis of mental heath problems that remain largely unaddressed, by society, at large. One need to hold onto a dream of hope, if they want to grow and heal, as a community, as a whole.
Like the Afro communities, of Canada and the United States, the Trans community knows, all too well, what the phrase, "strange fruit", which Billie Holiday sang about. Having your application rejected for housing, because, the landlord wasn't comfortable, with having "one of those tenants". As if, all trans-people work the street or use drugs. Never mind, the hidden crisis of mental heath problems that remain largely unaddressed, by society, at large. One need to hold onto a dream of hope, if they want to grow and heal, as a community, as a whole.
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