STATEMENT OF UNITY AND RESILIENCE: A CALL TO ACTION
The following is a statement by Executive Director Melody Capote:
The results of the elections in the United States and in Puerto Rico have triggered deep seated responses of pain, shock and disappointment in many of us in our community. The American vote is evidence that we are EXACTLY who I thought we were.
And so we grieve. We grieve because we know what’s to come because we have been here before, again and again. And we are allowed to grieve. We’re scared. We’re sad. We’re in tears. Our hearts ache. But, NOW WHAT? It is our responsibility to process these results, then get ready for the next four years. Let’s reset. Let’s think about the things we can each do to protect and make things better for our children, our community and our nation, and let’s do our best to do JUST that. Let’s turn this grief into action and get organized now.
As descendants of African and Indigenous peoples, we share a profound and intertwined history rooted in resilience and struggle. We have faced the legacies of colonialism, exploitation, racism and oppression, but we have to remember that so did our ancestors, yet they ignited powerful movements for freedom and dignity.
In Puerto Rico, where I am today, the struggle for sovereignty and cultural identity has been echoed through a long, storied fight for independence and social justice. The people on the island headed to the polls for their own elections yesterday with hopes for change and disruption, which fizzled with the results. Throughout our current programmatic year of ‘Lakay se Lakay’, dedicated to Haiti, CCCADI has lifted the Haitian Revolution and its people as a beacon of hope, where enslaved Africans rose against their oppressors, establishing the first Black republic and inspiring countless others throughout the African diaspora.
Today, the socio-political connections between Haitian, Puerto Rican and African people globally are evident in our shared challenges: systemic racism, economic hardship, political instability, and the impact of natural disasters. Our communities face the repercussions of U.S. intervention and policies that undermine our sovereignty and well-being. In the aftermath of these elections, we see the urgency for mutual support and collaboration.
So as we grieve collectively today, and prepare to mourn for the next four years, ask yourself, what can we do now? What can YOU do now? Solidarity and organizing is our strength. We need community gatherings where together we will create an agenda, a safety plan alongside our community, traditional leaders and local elected officials.
Now more than ever we must come together as a community, for community and in community.
Our cultural expressions—music, art, and storytelling—serve as vital links that honor our heritage while fostering resilience. Institutions dedicated to preserving and promoting these art forms are essential for empowering our communities and amplifying our voices.
Call to Action:
1. Support Cultural Arts: Invest in and advocate for cultural institutions that celebrate and uplift our history and our stories, providing spaces for healing and dialogue.
2. Foster Solidarity: Build connections between communities of color to share resources and strategies for advocacy, ensuring our collective struggles are recognized.
3. Educate: Create programs that educate our youth about our shared histories and the importance of civic engagement.
4. Advocate for Policy Change: Work together to influence policies that promote economic and social justice in places like Haiti, Puerto Rico and beyond.
In the spirit of the Young Lords & Black Panthers, the Haitian Revolution, and the Movement for Black Lives, let us embrace our shared legacy and mobilize for change. Together, we can create a future rooted in empowerment, justice, and unity for all. Your engagement is vital—let your voice be part of this transformative movement!
In the words of Toni Morrison:
This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.
I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge — even wisdom. Like art.
In power,
