Eric Morrison-Smith

Has America learned anything from the George Floyd uprisings? | Eric Morrison-Smith and David Turner III The response to the demonstrations fell short. But they marked the beginning of a new era that calls for action

Incredible piece in @theguardian.com by @ericms.bsky.social of Alliance for Boys and Men of Color on where we stand five years after the uprisings of 2020:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

“Revolution is a protracted struggle. It requires patience, self-transformation, and collective transformation.

It requires that we see individual, community, and organizational contradictions not as fixed or forever flawed, but as opportunities to evolve.“

—Eric Morrison-Smith

My colleague and I just co-wrote a piece published in @inequalityorg: Does It Mean to Build a Country That Was Never Meant for You?

We need to create a world free from the clutches of empire. That starts with organizing and resisting.

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It’s not all answers. It’s just honest reflections from someone trying to live a Black revolutionary life. If any of that resonates with you, or if you’ve been carrying similar thoughts, you’re welcome to read along and struggle with me.

There is No Other Notes from a Would-Be Revolutionary - Reflection #1

Many of y’all know I read a lot, but I also write a lot.

I decided to start a Substack as a space to share what I’m sitting with—the questions, contradictions, grief, and clarity I’m wrestling with in real time. It’s not a polished theory.

thinkinginmotion.substack.com/p/there-is-n...

California should pardon inmates who risked their lives to fight recent wildfires | Opinion “Granting clemency would affirm our commitments to justice and human rights and to a vision of dignity and fairness for all.”

The LA fires highlight a deep injustice: formerly incarcerated firefighters, who risked their lives battling wildfires for pennies, are barred from using that same experience for a stable career post-release. They deserve pardons.

More from @ericms.bsky.social: www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

“The task is to transform society; only the people can do that - not heroes, not celebrities, not stars.”

- Huey P. Newton

"You didn't see me on television, you didn't see news stories about me. The kind of role that I tried to play was to pick up pieces or put together pieces out of which I hoped organization might come. My theory is, strong people don't need strong leaders."

- Ella Baker

What are y’all reading or watching this weekend?

Reading: Revolution and Evolution by James and Grace Lee Boggs

Watching: Is Economic Collapse on the Way w/ Kali Akuno on Black Liberation Media

It’s not lost on me, that two white men who inherited, stole, and finessed their enormous wealth and power are now leading a crusade against “Diversity” based “merit.”

They didn’t “earn” any of that shit. It was literally handed to them with “small loans of a million dollars”

California should pardon inmates who risked their lives to fight recent wildfires | Opinion “Granting clemency would affirm our commitments to justice and human rights and to a vision of dignity and fairness for all.”

California depends on incarcerated firefighters to battle wildfires—risking their lives for pennies. Yet, when released, they’re barred from the same jobs. If the state values their service, it should prove it: Pardon them. Hire them. End slavery.

www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

California should pardon inmates who risked their lives to fight recent wildfires | Opinion “Granting clemency would affirm our commitments to justice and human rights and to a vision of dignity and fairness for all.”

"Now, California has an opportunity to demonstrate our values by granting clemency to the incarcerated firefighters who put their lives on the line to save neighborhoods and communities, and offering them sustainable, dignified jobs."-Eric Morrison-Smith

Read more at: www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

California should pardon inmates who risked their lives to fight recent wildfires | Opinion “Granting clemency would affirm our commitments to justice and human rights and to a vision of dignity and fairness for all.”

"Firefighting, with its extreme risk and stark benefit to the public good, is a glaring example of how California depends on prisoner labor and the exploitation of the people who perform it." - Eric Morrison-Smith, Alliance for Boys and Men of Color

Read more at: www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

How are y’all finding people on here?

I share reflections because 1) it allows me to put my thoughts out into the world and have people add on, push back or just connect and 2) because sometimes folks share that its helpful for their own processing and good to see someone else’s thoughts.

With that, some reflections on fear:

“There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal."

- Toni Morrison

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We make decisions based on information at the moment, information we may well find not valid five years from now, but we must move ahead, there is indeed much work to be done. The harvest is great but the reapers are few.” 3/3

Perfection-seeking is a dangerous trait and leads to more destruction than perfection. We do what we can in the limited time we have. 2/3

“the organizer must himself realize he is human. He will make mistakes. There is only so much that he can do in a given period of time and there is only so much that others can do.” 1/3

Any modern day “abolitionists” must also be anti-capitalist and anti-imperialism. #abolition

Just heard this on a mass call and 😮‍💨

“The only dangerous minority in this country is the rich”