You were such a light, a true star that walked amongst us and for your presence, I am truly thankful.
I was speaking with my older sister on the phone whilst hashing out the purpose of my 30-day series and she dropped this gem that was unbelievably mind-changing;
"There is someone's destiny intertwined with yours reliant upon you executing your purpose. You are holding the next person that you need to inspire. "
You were needed to create your art through the pain of your life events so that it could inspire what would today be one of the most influential African American women. That woman for you was Oprah Winfrey, who has gone on, in your memory, to change an innumerable amount of lives. My life is one of them. I have seen the influence she has played in my own life. The way her words have shaped my mindset and how I present myself in the world. With this, I have learned the significance of each of our lives and why we must live in the fullest way that we know how. It is not just for our own benefit, but ultimately for the next person out in the world that will continue the cycle of passing the torch.
While living with my sister's friend's mom, Tess Go, who was our temporary foster mom during our fight in court against our father, she would emphasize the necessity for us to go out into the world and work hard. To make this fight for our lives mean something. To not thank her for keeping and taking care of us, but to go out into the world and do the same for someone else. In her words, to "pass the torch". Her words continuously echo in my head, and I ultimately know what I must do. Ever since that tribulation in my life, I have always dreamt big. I have to do something with all the blessings that God has bestowed upon me. I have to make a difference for someone else out there. I have been given a story to share, in the hopes of allowing someone else out there to know that they are not alone and they too are not defined by their past or how they were brought up.
I was listening to you speak during your 2013 sit down session with Oprah today reflecting on the wrongdoers in your life and there is one characteristic of the three you speak of that I have not employed the use of. That is the act of forgiving. "to forgive, it's one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself". Miss Maya, I do not know if I am yet capable. It is anger that I have been operating on, especially right now with this full-fledged, unmasked race war. I am angry with the system and its long-lasting effects on my family, what it has cost me as an individual, and all that I have lost from the white man's hatred dating almost four hundred years back.
Grace, I work on every day, in concurrency with gratitude. I fear, however, the possibility that I cannot have the presence of both with the absence of the third component.
Were you without forgiveness when you moved to Ghana? Did your activism spark from a forgiving heart? When you joined the community of Revolutionist Returnees and made the friendship of Malcolm X what were your thoughts? Perhaps this is not a result of moving with a heart incapable of forgiveness but rather a mind and heart seeking resolution.
I pray that I will grow to operate from the same place. Maybe it will come with maturing, or maybe with the passing of time. All I feel is that I can not stay idle. Like your legend that continues to teach me and so many of us today, I have one waiting to be created, so that I may pass on the torch.
Sincerely,
Kayla Mary Jane
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