Reflecting and Moving Forward into 2015
January 5, 2015At the start of a New Year – 2015 – I’m very grateful for what I have accomplished thus far in the 14 years since my release and how my story has influenced so many people. God knows my heart and desires in moving forward to do even greater things.
On a personal note, I’m blessed. I have a loving husband and two beautiful children and two parents who have my back 110%. With the exception of God being the head, my family is my world. Often times, the demands of being a public figure and speaker, which is my occupation, has had me missing out on some memorable occasions and limited in building relationships.
Never in a million years would I have ever thought I would be a public speaker, especially since my personality leans more towards being an introvert. People tell me all the time, “please keep telling your story because it is helping so many people.” Not all the time, but on occasion, I get tired of telling the same story and I often wonder what’s next for me, since I’m on this non-traditional path. This year, I had a spiritual sister be brutally honest with me when she said, “Get over you being tired, it’s not about you, but doing God’s work and changing lives.” It was if I just got smacked in the face, but I truly felt as if that was God’s response. Fortunately, not only does God want me to keep telling the story, but this has become my occupation and my primary source of income since my release.
In 2014, I took my third trip to Geneva, Switzerland as part of an NAACP Delegation. This trip kind of set a frustrating tone that would last throughout the rest of the year because we were part of a coalition of human and civil rights organizations with various issues that we were advocating against. The most monumental moment was being in Geneva and hearing a high official from another country question The State – the United States – regarding current drug laws and sentencing, the death penalty, police brutality and specifically questioning the laws, outcomes and the injustices in the Trayvon Martin case. I sat through the hearing troubled, but not knowing what was in the not so distant future.
With the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Gardner, my heart has been heavy especially since I have a son whose life does matter. I’ve been proud of the peaceful protests and marches. I’ve heard some people say marching and protesting in 2014 “doesn’t do anything” and “it’s a waste of time.” I strongly disagree because I know what marching, protesting, signing petitions, writing letters, organizing and strategizing to gain support from influential individuals and the media can do from my own situation. Justice can prevail! Unfortunately, we are dealing with something bigger than my individual case. People and organizations supported me because they hoped that justice in my case would affect others. They felt as if the “War on Drugs” was more of a “War on People,” and not just people in general, but People of Color. As we continue to see injustices each and every day within our communities, we know that we are not just discriminated against racially in the areas of drug enforcement, prosecutions and sentencing, but with many other social justice issues and it does lead one to question, “Do Black Lives Really Matter in the US?”
As I ponder this question, it forces me to ask myself what can I do to help educate our youth to let them know that they do matter?
What can I do to convince a community or congregation that we have to go back to the “it takes a village” philosophy while raising our kids and looking out for each other?
We can’t look down and criticize other communities who are frustrated with being mistreated and undervalued on a daily basis and compare them to us and our knowledge of how to get ahead if they just don’t know or haven’t had the same opportunities in life.
Without question, we must be on one accord in getting everyone to understand the importance of voting, not just in national elections, but with each and every election. After my release from prison, I wasn’t able to vote due to my felony conviction and disenfranchisement laws in Virginia. Despite this knowledge, I still helped in get out the vote efforts. I thank one of my mentors, Cynthia Downs-Taylor for always keeping me in the loop politically because she thought I had a voice that mattered. In 2012, I was able to vote for the first time after my rights were restored by former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. In 2013, I was able to vote for our current governor, Terry McAuliffe. While he was on his campaign trail, Cynthia invited me to a Women’s Roundtable discussion in Hampton, where I was able to personally meet him along with Lavar Stoney, who was heavily involved with McAuliffe campaign. Despite my introverted personality, I expressed my concerns and experiences I have had in different states that, if implemented, could make a difference within the state of Virginia.
During another McAuliffe campaign stop in Norfolk, I was able to meet former President Clinton and take a picture with them both. Of course, I thanked him for commuting my sentence – our conversation was priceless. Because of protests, marches and organizational support, I witnessed a President grant me my freedom and I witnessed a Governor restore my voting rights. This enabled me to vote for Gov. McAuliffe and he won. Voting does make a difference! Although many in this country would just see me as an ex-felon – who doesn’t deserve the second chance that I’ve been given – but because of who Virginians elected, I’m able to be so much more than just that.
At the end of December, Gov. McAuliffe appointed me to the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission where my voice can possibly make a difference. I thank Gov. McAuliffe and Secretary of the Commonwealth Lavar Stoney for this appointment, but most importantly I thank God for this opportunity.
2015…I believe will be the year of transition! I have no idea why God has allowed me the opportunity to experience and see the things I have seen and I have no idea what’s in store, but I will continue to have faith and rely on Him to help me move from where I am to where He wants me to be.