But truly, Irene's speech needs no introduction... please listen to this amazing young woman's wisdom.
Commencement Address
by Irene Romulo, Bill Emerson Hunger Fellow, PC(USA) Office of Public Witness
July 24, 2013
Thank you
for standing with us and for supporting us along the way.
How can I
possibly talk about all that I’ve learned and experienced in one year in five
minutes, how do I share all the stories of struggle and hope that people from
across the country have shared with us? I’ll try to cram most of it, most of
what I believe in, in just these five minutes.
In our
discussions we often talk about how important it is to ground ourselves in our
communities
In the
struggles of our people
And that’s
what we’ve done
and now
I know that our
lives, my life will forever be connected to each one of you
That it will
forever be connected to the many friends and allies that we’ve met along the
way
I know that
the work we’re doing is tough
And that
we’ve got a lot of it to do but
I know that
even in all that struggle, there is beauty, there is strength, and there is
power
I know that
we need to love, to love ourselves and one another, to fully embrace the beauty
and power in our histories, in our cultures, our hair, our skin, our languages
because
when our
lives are devalued, our bodies somehow made less human
when our
customs and cultures appropriated, defiled, stolen
that when
our peoples are humiliated, that when yet another micro aggression, or another
act of violence is made our communities,
it is only
through collective action that we’ll find any sort of liberation.
I know that
we’ve experienced a lot of anger and hurt.
I know that I personally have a lot of pain that I didn’t know how to
recognize, internalized pain that doesn’t just affect me but many of us.
But I also know
that we can actively challenge the roots of that pain.
I know it’s
possible to stop being afraid to talk, to share, and to confront our traumas
collectively
because one
person should not have to bear the burden of hundreds of years of struggle
alone.
I know that
we’re privileged because we’re here and we can and have the language to discuss
institutional oppressions but I know we need to move these conversations out
Because for my
brother who stands at Home Depot everyday looking for work or the woman, like
my new friend Martita, who is being unconstitutionally detained, these
conversations alone without action will do nothing to change their situation. I
know we need to have these conversations with them because I know that it’s
possible to transform an individual from someone that is timid and shy
From someone
who has been humiliated for so long that they’ve been shamed into normalizing
all the violations and abuses they’ve endured
Into someone
who draws strength and power, from all those experiences, and from the people
standing with them
Into someone
who Stands up at a rally, at a press conference, in front of legislators, in
front of their communities
And cries
out against our oppressors
And joins
the movement of the people
A movement
that isn’t just here but that is undeniably tied to the struggles of others
And I know that
our work should be tied to the collective liberation of people across the world.
I know it is
important to value the stories that our community members are willing to share,
to treasure them, because each and every one of their stories is a story of
struggle, of hope, and of strength.
And I know
we need to make intentional spaces in our work to make sure that these stories
are shared and become our guides
I know we
need to remember to listen ALWAYS and that we need to reject language that tries
to chip away our agency because we are not voiceless
Our people
are loud as hell, some just choose not to listen.
I know we
can’t trade the rights of some people for those of another
And that
compromises that criminalize a sector of us are not compromises but further
acts of violence aimed at creating divisions in our pueblo
I know that
there should not be anything progressive about wanting dignity, respect, and
real justice for all.
I know that
there are a lot of things I do not know but that’s okay.
I know that
we’re never alone. That everywhere we go we have the power of our ancestors and
all our brothers and sisters who work towards the same liberation.
I know that there’s power in humility, power in reaching out for help, power in our voices, power in our hearts, in our lives, in our experiences, our knowledge, and our dances. Power in our eyes, in our hands, our laughter and our cries…we are the power, together. Cuz the power of the people don’t stop!
I know that there’s power in humility, power in reaching out for help, power in our voices, power in our hearts, in our lives, in our experiences, our knowledge, and our dances. Power in our eyes, in our hands, our laughter and our cries…we are the power, together. Cuz the power of the people don’t stop!