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by Dee Allen, Joseph Bolden, Queennandi Xsheba, Jewnbug, Luis, Vivian Hain, Dharma, Ruyata
Hustling funds just to have access to a conversation where often times I am the subject and not the story teller required a lot of work.
Foundations and organizations provided limited money, and there are so many of us in economic limbo
Traveling to tell my story in hopes that I will make effective impact to stabilize equality.
The process at the airport felt like I had just entered Hitler's concentration camp
My shoes off and my bags wide open, the commotion over the lotion for hands and body almost taken away, but never will my mind and soul be taken away
riding in the third class economy on the plane I ate crackerjack snake boxes as if these crumbs would actually provide nourishment on a 5 hour flight.
In ATL, and the cost of living high, many people asking for fifty cents, I didn't feel I had left Frisco, still in the concrete jungle with bright lights, big buildings and still house-less.
We are staying 10 miles from the US Social Forum, where we are facilitating a process in which our message IS MEDIA.
We are working, and yet we are still marginalized.
Just to get here to the Social forum is a struggle and a story in its self, a story that speaks to PO' folks having accessibility to framing main stream media, to digital equipment, to policy making, to legislation and most importantly, making laws.
I feel like everyday we have to cross borders, and challenge criminalizing and dehumanizing mannerism.
We are running the Ida B. Wells Media Justice Center in a hallway. Everyone has to travel a hallway to get to a room, but when your room is the hallway, its sends a clear message , " There is no room for you "
However, I am blessed to be here to utilize this opportunity to move towards justice and freedom through various mediums. But the real question is, Are we all moving towards the same vision?�
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