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by Leroy F. Moore, Founder, Krip-Hop Nation
This letter is a continuation of my handwritten letter of 1980. Back then, I was joined by two friends who were also Blackand physically disabled and younger. Back then, we’d target certain so-called Black leaders and organizations. Now I’m in my 50s and I don’t know where the other two brothers are at in 2021. But as I approach my golden years, the question still remains and has expanded:
When are we going to have time to work on Black ableism and raise awareness and create more organizations for and with our Black disabled people? When are we going to not bring home our nine-to-five stress from largely White disabled non-profits so we can work on Black ableism inside our own community?
We give so much to this White power structure because we have to pay our bills, rent, food, take care of our family etc. I understand, but when are we going to help lay down a welcome mat to home, aka, the Black community?
When Can We Come Home?
We must heal our wounds
The time is coming soon
You gave us so much Blues
It’s all up to you
When can we come home?
We tried to call but there’s no dial tone
Can’t flex cause no one answered our text
So you tell me what’s next
Always feel like we are alone
Like we’ve been kidnapped at birth
On a spaceship leaving earth
Just to get services
Black ableism waiting, so this is how it is
We must heal our wounds
The time is coming soon
You gave us so much Blues
It’s all up to you
When can we come home
We have to multiply
This time there’s no bye bye
We are looking at you eye to eye
This is a conversation not a fight
We are healing our wounds
The time is now
You gave us so much Blues
But it’s not up to you
We are coming home
I know we have open wounds from our own communities and the trust is not there. And I know that we tried so many times with Black disabled movements big or small like in London or Toronto or the Bay Area. Black Disabled Resistance goes all the way back to the Blues.
I know it is painful to pull open that history and look at what we did and to look at systematic oppression that was put on our movements – so no wonder most of those movements have failed. Why hasn’t somebody written about Black disabled movements in the UK, Toronto, South Africa and the Bay Area of San Francisco?
However, at the same time, we must question ourselves: Why we don’t in great numbers support our own Black disabled activists, coalitions, collectives and networks, but we continue to work in large, White-controlled disabled non-profits? Especially at this moment in time, where racial justice – whatever that means – is talked about and finally being funded, with large corporations implementing diversity programs.
Have I created steps for the next generation to continue to build on?
And like many have said coming out of this COVID-19 pandemic, “We can’t go back to normal because normal was oppressive!” So, my Black community internationally: I’m in my mid-50s and this letter started when I was a pre-teenager in the day of pencil and paper. My question has expanded, but it is also the same.
I also ask myself: Have I done what I’m asking you, the Black community, to do, and where did I fail and where are the places I have built? Have I created steps for the next generation to continue to build on?
I can tell you all a list of what I have done and continue to do today, but the question still remains: Is the Blackcommunity worldwide ready to work on Black ableism and healing our past wounds so we can leave that welcome mat into the Black community for the next generation of Black disabled activists, artists, cultural workers, parents, workers and students? What we are we working on now? I’ll put it in a poem.
Krip-Hop Institute
Time to leave a solid foundation
No hashtag, Krip-Hop evolution
Ph.D. coming back to the community
Brick by brick build that building
First floor our visual art gallery
Let’s go up to the music studio
You must learn welcome to the library
Stay connected on the international floor
No doors
Open flow
Fully accessible,
Chairs adjustable tables
Living quarters for Krip-Hop founders
Political education pulling us together
Art, activism, sports, literature
Under one roof equal Krip-Hop Institute
Thanks to Steve Brown
Who passed down
A model that Krip-Hop can follow
Disability Culture Institute I take a bow
Ph.D. dissertation, I got my subject
It will not only be for graduate school to use for an object
Like Piri Thomas told me, “Bring it back to the community!”
Gentrification with COVID-19 time to build something new
Krip-Hop Institute
Black community, are you going to answer my letter, email or text? I’m an elder now. Or will another little Black disabled boy have to continue with this letter?
Leroy F. Moore Jr., poet, researcher, journalist and activist, founder of Krip-Hop Nation and founding member of the National Black Disability Coalition, can be reached at Kriphopnation@gmail.com.
