“What Did You Do, Nini?”

 A Nini's Call to Open Hearts and Minds

“Nini” is what my grandchildren call me, and the minute their bright eyes look into mine, my heart melts like butter. When I think of the questions they ask me now, and will in the future, and being the matriarch of our family, I need to look directly into their baby blues and speak honestly and with accountability.

Which leads me to this moment in our history and the theme of this month “open.” There comes a time when remaining the same tight-lipped woman watching from the sidelines and not getting involved is not an option. That time is now. Truth be told, it’s been “that time” since the day I was born into the civil rights movement of the ‘60s, and certainly at the inception of this country. But we will focus on the here and now and how unfolding ourselves into something worthy, something bigger, impacts the greater good. 

When I see small businesses, artists, influencers, individuals of all ages, nationalities, school students, and nursing home residents willing to speak up, walk out, and lose business, followers, friends and family, that is the group in which I want to be included. Millions of decent human beings are willing to sacrifice their livelihood, lives, and relationships in this time of reckoning, and so am I. 

Artists, entrepreneurs, and musicians are saying, “Don’t buy my stuff, or listen to my music, or frequent our establishments if you agree with this administration’s lawless behavior.” 

This is NOT political. It’s personal and powerful to have conversations with my children about my values, what I believe in, what is and is not acceptable behavior. My children and grandchildren are looking at me, talking with me, and watching how I respond to the treatment of this administration towards children, women, people of varying skin tones, and those peacefully taking a stand against atrocities, and how this president’s actions instill fear, division, and financial gain for himself, his family, and their circle of billionaires.

When I consider the “Christian” churches and organizations responsible for putting such an evil man in office and continue to support and defend his immigrant policing, killing innocent people, racist, felonious and adulterous behavior, idolatry of self, it makes my skin curl.

I can’t tell my children and grandchildren that I kept silent or in any way supported such inhumane behavior. Over the years, I simply removed myself from conversations in which I disagreed with the topic. Those leading the conversation felt my actions rude and represented a political difference, but it wasn’t about politeness or politics, walking away protected my peace. Anyone who mocks a person with a disability is not a respectable human being. The list of his and his administration’s unethical and vile behavior is too long for this piece. “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” Maya Angelou

This piece is about me answering the call for action, and being willing to lose readers and followers, family and friends in order to look my children and their families in the eye and say I didn’t stand for violence against children, women, immigrants, people of color, trans, LGBTQ, and anyone else who has felt marginalized, minimalized, and treated as less than. I stood up and spoke up and joined forces with many courageous souls.

People have tried to support human rights for centuries, within countries, communities, within homes, and through various movements and revolutions. Many paid a high price for doing so. I want to be counted among those who didn’t stay neutral or silent, especially when innocent lives have been taken and families ripped apart.

“What did you do, Nini?” I will tell them, “Things I’ve never done before, I wrote letters to the president, vice president, and state representatives. I made phone calls to local offices and supported businesses who stood up for justice, and I stopped giving my business where they supported the perpetration of injustice. I did little things within my space and time to add to the collective greater good. I stood with millions across this country and around the globe at rallies for peace, justice, and human rights. I lost relationships with family, friends, and readers and I would do it all again to protect my children, grandchildren, our community, state, country, and world.” On that I can look them in the eye and rest my head at night.