Monday, June 19, 2023

run the juneteenth



                                
                                 
                                        There are Black Trans People in the Future.
                           Alisha B. Wormsley, filmmaker and visual artist


Something happened at Juneteenth in the Fillmore on Saturday. I met up with a friend. It was packed with people having a good time - live music and a DJ. We even passed London Breed being chauffeured through on a golf cart. She is one pretty and chic Sister Mayor! 

It was nice to see folks run into one another, embrace, fist bump, and smile. At least for a little while, an afternoon, a weekend, we can forget about the storm of evil approaching. 

I heard  ' Hey, girl!' and ' All good, my brother.' as I passed through the crowd. I even ran into a former student (now a dude) who's on his way to grad school at UC Santa Cruz in the fall. 

My friend and I stopped at a food truck for a snack. We were chatting as we got our plates then suddenly people started running towards McAlister.  It was a like a human wave and it happened so fast. Under such circumstances I don't ask questions - I run and tell others to run. I saw a little girl go down, picked her up, and took her by the hand.

' Where's my mama?!" she shouted.

' Baby, I need you to run right now!'

We ran behind a community center into a parking lot at the rear.
I didn't hear shots or anything that sounded like danger. I waited a few minutes.

' Am I being kidnapped?' the little girl asked.

' No, dear. You're not being kidnapped.' 

I took her back to her mom who was standing on the corner in a frantic state. She looked me in the eye, angry for a moment, which was fear. Then her face softened with relief. 

' She went down and I helped her up.' I said.

' Oh! Thank you, sis.' she said.

 My friend and I re-connected through the crowds. 

' Whew! That scared the shit out of me.' I said. ' I need a drink.' I was having a visceral reaction to laugh, but from anxiety, not amusement.

' I'm always afraid of that happening wherever we gather.' She said.  ' Like another Buffalo or Tulsa.' 

No one knew what caused it or why. It could have a been a prank pulled by kids to post on Tik Tok, but I sensed something. There was a message in that moment. We are in danger and a storm of evil is approaching. It was if we are collectively aware and preparing for it. 



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