Yemisi Adeleye, Contributor
Featured image courtesy of the AGYU
Activist Love Letters is a project ignited out of the need for activists to be encouraged and appreciated. It asks the participant, “If you could reach out to one person who moves you by what they do, who would it be? What would you say?”
These nights were curated and organized by Syrus Marcus Ware, an artist and activist within the community. Ware is part of many large social movements for disability justice, trans activism, and black-queer and trans community building. People were able to come and hear letters that well-known activists have written to each other in the past and then people were given the opportunity to write their own letters to activists in the community. Activist bios were provided for participants, as well as hand-made cards and stickers.
“Activism can be incredibly joyful, and life-giving,” Ware says. “Yet, it can also be isolating and taxing. These letters are encouragement, yes, but also essential to survival and resiliency.”
These letters also do not go unnoticed or unappreciated. “Some replies describe receiving their letter when they are at crossroads in their lives, and getting a letter at the exact right moment seems to have an empowering effect,” he adds. “It is significant to receive an outpouring of love from a complete stranger.”
Writing these activist letters not only empowers the activist, but also the participant to look within and think about starting their own movement.
Activism comes in many different forms and art is one of them. Three poets performed the evening of February 11, including first-year human rights and equity studies student Nasim Asgari. “I feel like my poetry or my art itself may be a form of activism, but to call myself an activist is very difficult,” says Asgari. “It’s an ongoing journey.”
Art can be utilized as a key tool for activism as it can communicate in ways that other things can’t. Ware drew large portraits of activists and believes that his art is part of his activism and is working on diversifying the arts sector.
Activism is crucial for change to come about in our society. These nights break activist movements down to the activist, the individual. It reminds one of the need for self-care and the importance of empowering one another to move forward.
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