Thinking About Justice

2024-07-24 “Thinking About Justice” by Emma

I’m down here at that park again. Jenn’s doing some looking around and Merritt’s at work.

I was looking on Instagram and saw a post by @aliana.geven.dreams where she was imagining being a’ elf and fighting for justice, equality, and dignity for all. She asked who’d fight with her.

Now, that got me thinking back to 1880 and my days sharecropping in the Mississippi delta. To ask me, I’d say weren’t none o’ those things, ‘specially for the n… for the black folk. They weren’t called that in 1880, so, I’m working on changing.

I said in a story about the farm next to ours that they was a black girl about my age, and I never even thought to ask her her name. Looking at things now, in 2024, that seem really mean. Just ‘cause my skin and hair were different, I had no place being uppity. Fact is, we grubbed up the same dirt, picked the same bolls, and had life near about the same.

No, to be sure, there weren’t no… wasn’t any justice for poor people, ‘specially black people, back in 1880. Now, to look around, I see life’s different for black folk. But I still see lackings. Anyone can take a look and see the same, if they have a mind to do so.

Is there justice, equality and dignity for all in 2024? I’d have to say there’s more of it, but it sure ain’t even, and I’m just saying about race. A lot can be said about women coming up close to equal, but I don’t think it’s even for women, either.

Well, I guess all that to say, if somebody wants to see things even out, there’s still some work to do. Sure, things come a long way since 1880, but if they can come so far, why not keep on going? I know it ain’t simple, and I know some folk have overcome a lot to rise to high places, but I don’t think the climb is the same for everyone.

So I thought I’d try an’ make an elf picture to be in on Ailana’s thing. I used that thing I used to make the 1880 pictures a while back.

I hope you like it and know it’s not the normal me!