BLACK LOVE – A LOVE LIKE NO OTHER
by Hector Addison
“There has been this unbroken history of struggle for liberation for hundreds of years, but Black people managed to create beauty and love in the very process of fighting this system.” — Angela Davis
What is Black Love?
This wide-reaching term can refer to love shared among the Black community through movements that demand equity for Black people, the fight for liberation, and the celebration of concepts like Black unity and Black strength. Unrelenting, fearless, and foundational to the Black freedom struggle, Black love is based on anti-racism, collective organizing, and a commitment to freedom and democracy. As Cornel West explains, “Black love has nothing to do whatsoever with hating others. It has everything to do with hating white supremacy, everything to do with hating evil deeds, everything to do with hating the impediments of Black dignity and Black decency. But it’s always for. It’s not simply against. It’s not simply anti. Black love is not just anti-racist. No… it’s for the people you love and those who sometimes you think you oppose.” It’s a love, he says, that seeks “liberty for everybody.”
Love is such a powerful word. It has spiritual meaning. It means far more than what we say. It’s from the heart. It’s deeper than the words ‘I LOVE YOU.’ Black love has produced many freedom fighters who helped make our way a little straight. It is love that elevates a community rather than individuals. It is not selfish. The foundation of ACAO is situated on Black love. Since its formation, ACAO has always been about community and community welfare. We knew very early that we rise or sink together. Today, I salute all those who have contributed their time, effort, and love to help ACAO serve the community with love. 2021 was undoubtedly a difficult year. In many ways, it was the continuation of 2020 that saw us trapped under the armpits of two serious pandemics – the rise of anti-Black racism and the COVID-19 pandemic that decimated our community. As we celebrate the end of 2021 and usher in 2022, let’s be mindful that the fight for black liberation continues. The pandemics still rages on including the fight for a more equitable and better Canada. That is why we need more freedom fighters.
The fight for justice, equity, fairer society continues. In other words, the struggle continues here at home and abroad. We need freedom fighters to put their shoulders to the wheel – it helps move the wagon farther down the track. Don’t be a bystander or spectator. Let’s all help liberate our community. Let’s start from where we are. Where we have influence – your place of work, place of worship, everywhere. It’s in our DNA. We are a resilient people created for such a time as this to make a difference. We can do it, but we need to work with a common goal. We do not have to agree on the way to achieve it but that is okay. There are several ways we can take but the destination must be the same. We are black but not monolithic. We have different cultures, experiences, and upbringing. We do not expect to be in unison in our approach to build a more just society. For example, our famous three black intellectuals like, W.E.B Du Bois, and Booker T Washington, and Ida B. Wells never agreed on the how’s. They were vocal about their disagreement, but they agreed on what the fight was all about.
The same could be said of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X. The ‘what’ we fight and the ‘why’ we fight are important than the ‘how’ we fight. In 2022, express black love by becoming a freedom fighter. Join the fight in your own small way. If everyone pitches in, the aggregate of our individual efforts will produce a powerful collective force capable of shaping the next decade for the benefit of black people here in Canada and elsewhere.
Let’s love one another even as we fight the system that has oppressed us for hundreds of years. Let’s teach Black love to our children, our youth, our friends, and our community. Black love will help save our community from internal destruction. Black love eschews evil. It will put an end to senseless homicides that characterized our community in 2021. Let’s collectively teach our youth this black love. It’s the sure way to save the lives of our youth. Let this be your charge for 2022. Do your part to save our people and to lift the community up. Would you answer the call?
As you reflect on the call, I leave you with this hymnal – A Charge to Keep I Have:
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.
2 To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
Oh, may it all my pow’rs engage
To do my Master’s will!
3 Arm me with watchful care
As in Thy sight to live,
And now Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!
4 Help me to watch and pray,
And still on Thee rely,
Oh, let me not my trust betray,
But press to realms on high.
Black love has nothing to do with hating others…. [it’s a love seeking] liberty for everybody. – Cornel West
Happy New Year!
Your Chief Servant, Hector Addison JANUARY 1, 2022
Hector Addison is Resource Coordinator and Co-Founder of the African Canadian Association of Ottawa.