‘I’m A Human Being Who Got Fed Up’
It was 10 days after the horrific shooting in Charleston, South Carolina where a gunman opened fire and killed nine black people in a church during prayer service , Bree Newsome knew that there was something she had to do.
‘I was fed up’ says Newsome. On June 28, 2015, The North Carolina native strapped on a harness and climbed 30 feet up the pole on the state house of South Carolina and took down the Confederate Battle Flag.
” I Removed The Flag…. In Defiance Of The Oppression That Continues Against Black People Globally in 2015 .
I Did It All For The Fierce Black Woman On The Front Lines Of The Movement And For All The Little Black Girls Who Are Watching Us.
I Did It Because I Am Free ” – Bree Newsome
Newsome was arrested, and charged with defacing the statue monument. The flag was swiftly returned to its post. But, for many people, Newsome was hailed a ‘hero’ and termed the ‘wonderwoman’ of the new millenium for her courageous act. While some people criticized her actions, that moment of defiance from Newsome was more than the popularity that followed her. As an activist, it was her duty to bring social awareness to the critical issue of racial inequality in America.
Newsome was recently honored at ‘The Root 100’ gala and during her speech she emphasized that the true power lies with the unification of the people in mobilizing and demonstrating action in the fight for justice.
Newsome says that she became inspired by this new ‘civil right’s revolution’ by seeing the acts of young individuals like De Ray McKesson who amassed a movement on twitter. If anybody is asking themselves what they would’ve done in the ‘1965 Civil Rights’ era then right now is the answer -says Newsome. Fighting for justice doesn’t mean getting arrested; they’re many other grassroot ways . “We have to be on the grounds, protesting.”
Newsome reminded the audience that public expression does promotes change.
“So Often In Our Society We Don’t Recognize The Moment, In The Moment; It’s After The Fact. The Movement Started In 2013 When People Began Protesting When Trayvon Martin Was Murdered.
As Martin Luther King said: This Is Not Just The Natural Thing That Happens With The Progression Of Time, Rights Just Don’t Come With Time, But Because People Fight For Them “
When We Say Black Lives Matter That Statement To Me Has Never Just Been A Plea, That Says Please Respect My Life, It’s A Declarative Statement
That Says We Can No Longer Operate As A Society That Is Built Upon The Devaluing Of Black Life. We Had An Economy That Was Built Upon The Devaluing Of Black Life, & That Is Fundamentally At Odds With Any Kind Of Concept Of Equality & Justice “
To listen to her full speech click HERE
One Love PLUMS!